The 104th German Catholic Day is taking place in Würzburg, aiming to position the Church as a political voice. Central themes include democracy and social justice, as the Church grapples with declining membership numbers. Bishop Franz Jung emphasizes that the Church must show its face and address the concerns of the people in light of these challenges.
Irme Stetter-Karp, President of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), expresses hope that a strong voice for democracy will emerge from Würzburg. Prominent guests from politics, including Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Friedrich Merz, are expected to discuss important societal issues.
A special highlight of the Catholic Day is the Democracy Church, organized in collaboration with the Youth Education Center of Lower Franconia. This project aims to demonstrate how the Church can contribute to strengthening democracy. The event takes place against the backdrop of approximately 1.2 million people expected to leave or pass away from the Catholic and Protestant Churches by 2025.
The election of the new Bätzing is seen as pivotal, as he will not run again. The challenges facing the Church are clearly palpable, and the message of the Catholic Day is directed both inward and outward.
