BREAKING Catholic Bishops from Germany and Poland Sign New Declaration on 60th Reconciliation Anniversary
Bishops from Poland and Germany are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the exchange of letters on reconciliation in Wrocław. (Image © DBK / Ewelina Sowa)
"Poles and Germans need each other"
November 18, 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the exchange of letters between the Polish and German bishops. Twenty years after the Second World War, the Polish bishops present at the Second Vatican Council invited their German counterparts to the millennium celebration of the Christianization of Poland. They combined this gesture with a reflection on the shared history of both peoples, culminating in a message of reconciliation after the horrors of war and German occupation. The phrase "We forgive and ask for forgiveness" has entered the historical memory of both nations and of Europe. In their reply, the German bishops took up the message of reconciliation and declared their intention to gratefully accept the outstretched hand.
The message from the Polish bishops and the response from the German side did not receive an immediate positive reception in either country. However, after only a few years, the correspondence was considered an epochal event, a central moment in a historical movement that helped to pave the way for détente and reconciliation in Europe despite all the confrontation.
To commemorate these events, to jointly recall what has been achieved since then in Polish-German relations, and at the same time to focus on the new challenges in a Europe once again rife with war, delegations from the Polish and German Bishops' Conferences met today in Wrocław. The focus of the event was a ceremony at the monument to Cardinal Bolesław Kominek of Wrocław, who is revered as the principal author of the Polish letter, a celebratory Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and the signing of a joint declaration by the presidents of both bishops' conferences.
At the ceremony, in addition to the presidents of both bishops' conferences, speeches were given on behalf of the state by Wojciech Jacek Zajączkowski, State Secretary in the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Knut Abraham, the German Federal Government's Special Representative for Polish Affairs. Furthermore, a resolution adopted by the Senate of the Republic of Poland on the occasion of the 60th anniversary was read aloud. The speeches by the two church representatives emphasized the courage and foresight of the later Cardinal Kominek, who, through initiating the exchange of letters, became an outstanding figure in European Catholicism in the second half of the 20th century.
In his homily during the Eucharist, Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing, Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, explained the Christian understanding of reconciliation based on Jesus' Beatitudes, an understanding also reflected in the correspondence of 1965. He stated that bearing witness to this reconciliation is not a political strategy, but precisely because it defies and opposes the logic of the world, it can have significant political consequences. This is evident in the reception history of the correspondence.
The joint declaration entitled " Courage to Extend a Hand" also recalls the political significance of the exchange of letters. It was signed by the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, and by Bishop Bätzing: "Thus, the letters ultimately made a significant contribution to the path of political understanding, which led to the recognition of the state border along the Oder and Neisse rivers and to further steps toward good neighborly relations between Poles and Germans." In this context, explicit reference is made to the effective contributions of the Evangelical Church in Germany and to initiatives "from within the Catholic Church" in this process. The declaration makes it clear that the reconciliation process between Poles and Germans is not yet complete: "The historical wounds continue to shape our present." In very strong terms, the presidents of the bishops' conferences reject all attempts to politically exploit lingering tensions: "Some political actors are trying to politically exploit what is still painful and historically unresolved. For us, it is clear: political games with historical wounds contradict the spirit of reconciliation as expressed in the correspondence."
With regard to the current political situation, the Joint Declaration speaks of "hope for reconciliation for Europe and the world." It emphatically opposes the tendencies toward national isolation that characterize our times: "The temptation to pursue separate national paths and to abandon the international policy of rules-based cooperation must be resisted. The European idea of creating a common area of law and peace remains central." The condemnation of the Russian war against Ukraine also reflects this position. The bishops express their "conviction of the necessity for Europe to confront violence together. Practical solidarity with those attacked and compassion for all victims of the war are required."
In his statement at the press conference, Bishop Bätzing referred to these statements in the Joint Declaration and lamented the often insufficient dynamism in Polish-German relations. While "the achieved degree of good neighborliness and normality" should not be underestimated, he said, "the future cannot be won by simply resting on past merits, by cultivating a sense of boredom in relations between states, between societies, and perhaps even within the Church." Rather, he asserted, "Poland and Germany need each other – and they are needed: in many respects, but above all for building a Europe that should be the guarantor of security and peace, of freedom and social justice for all of us." On this path, the Church in Poland and Germany is also called upon to bear common witness. "For when it speaks with one voice, it can bring effective ethical guidance to the debates, a guidance that is measured by the Gospel."
The Polish Bishops' Conference is represented by Archbishop Wojda, Cardinal Grzegorz Wojciech Ryś (Krakow), Archbishop Józef Kupny (Wrocław), and Archbishop Stanisław Budzik (Lublin), among others. The German delegation includes Bishop Bätzing, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (Cologne), Archbishop Heiner Koch (Berlin), Bishop Bertram Meier (Augsburg), Bishop Wolfgang Ipolt (Görlitz), Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers (Dresden-Meissen), Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser (Cologne), and the General Secretary of the German Bishops' Conference, Beate Gilles (Bonn).
Notes:
The statements by Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing and Bishop Dr. Bertram Meier at the press conference, the sermon by Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing during the Eucharistic celebration, his address at the ceremony at the Wrocław monument for Cardinal Kominek, and the joint declaration by the chairmen of the Polish and German Bishops' Conferences on the 60th anniversary of the exchange of letters are available below as PDF files.
Further information can be found on the topic page Historical Correspondence .
In his homily during the Eucharist, Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing, Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, explained the Christian understanding of reconciliation based on Jesus' Beatitudes, an understanding also reflected in the correspondence of 1965. He stated that bearing witness to this reconciliation is not a political strategy, but precisely because it defies and opposes the logic of the world, it can have significant political consequences. This is evident in the reception history of the correspondence.
The joint declaration entitled " Courage to Extend a Hand" also recalls the political significance of the exchange of letters. It was signed by the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, and by Bishop Bätzing: "Thus, the letters ultimately made a significant contribution to the path of political understanding, which led to the recognition of the state border along the Oder and Neisse rivers and to further steps toward good neighborly relations between Poles and Germans." In this context, explicit reference is made to the effective contributions of the Evangelical Church in Germany and to initiatives "from within the Catholic Church" in this process. The declaration makes it clear that the reconciliation process between Poles and Germans is not yet complete: "The historical wounds continue to shape our present." In very strong terms, the presidents of the bishops' conferences reject all attempts to politically exploit lingering tensions: "Some political actors are trying to politically exploit what is still painful and historically unresolved. For us, it is clear: political games with historical wounds contradict the spirit of reconciliation as expressed in the correspondence."
With regard to the current political situation, the Joint Declaration speaks of "hope for reconciliation for Europe and the world." It emphatically opposes the tendencies toward national isolation that characterize our times: "The temptation to pursue separate national paths and to abandon the international policy of rules-based cooperation must be resisted. The European idea of creating a common area of law and peace remains central." The condemnation of the Russian war against Ukraine also reflects this position. The bishops express their "conviction of the necessity for Europe to confront violence together. Practical solidarity with those attacked and compassion for all victims of the war are required."
In his statement at the press conference, Bishop Bätzing referred to these statements in the Joint Declaration and lamented the often insufficient dynamism in Polish-German relations. While "the achieved degree of good neighborliness and normality" should not be underestimated, he said, "the future cannot be won by simply resting on past merits, by cultivating a sense of boredom in relations between states, between societies, and perhaps even within the Church." Rather, he asserted, "Poland and Germany need each other – and they are needed: in many respects, but above all for building a Europe that should be the guarantor of security and peace, of freedom and social justice for all of us." On this path, the Church in Poland and Germany is also called upon to bear common witness. "For when it speaks with one voice, it can bring effective ethical guidance to the debates, a guidance that is measured by the Gospel."
The Polish Bishops' Conference is represented by Archbishop Wojda, Cardinal Grzegorz Wojciech Ryś (Krakow), Archbishop Józef Kupny (Wrocław), and Archbishop Stanisław Budzik (Lublin), among others. The German delegation includes Bishop Bätzing, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (Cologne), Archbishop Heiner Koch (Berlin), Bishop Bertram Meier (Augsburg), Bishop Wolfgang Ipolt (Görlitz), Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers (Dresden-Meissen), Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser (Cologne), and the General Secretary of the German Bishops' Conference, Beate Gilles (Bonn).
Notes:
The statements by Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing and Bishop Dr. Bertram Meier at the press conference, the sermon by Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing during the Eucharistic celebration, his address at the ceremony at the Wrocław monument for Cardinal Kominek, and the joint declaration by the chairmen of the Polish and German Bishops' Conferences on the 60th anniversary of the exchange of letters are available below as PDF files.
Further information can be found on the topic page Historical Correspondence .
#Polonia e #Germania, la forza della riconciliazione. A Breslavia la commemorazione del https://t.co/BtNO52EB6h anniversario del messaggio per la riconciliazione inviato dagli Episcopati polacchi e tedeschi#VaticanNewsIT
— Vatican News (@vaticannews_it) November 19, 2025
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