Symposium and Festschrift on the Occasion of Cardinal Kurt Koch’s 75th Birthday

From 31 October to 2 November 2025, a symposium was held at Vinzenz Pallotti University in Vallendar (Germany) in honour of Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU), who celebrated his 75th birthday this year.

The speakers, Bishop Dr Heiner Wilmer of Hildesheim and Bishop Dr Bertram Meier of Augsburg, addressed the Gottesfrage (“question of God”) in spiritual life, in the Church, and in society. The solo theatre play “Abgerungen” reflected on the conscience′s struggle with God in the life of Blessed Pallottine Richard Henkes, whose beatification Cardinal Koch had performed on behalf of Pope Francis on 15 September 2019.

During the symposium, following a laudatory speech by Bishop Dr Klaus Krämer of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Cardinal Koch was presented with a Festschrift edited by Prof. Dr George Augustin, entitled “Gott in die Mitte. Damit Glauben gelingen kann” (“God at the Centre: So that Faith May Succeed”). The volume gathers contributions from numerous authors on the Gottesfrage, a topic that Cardinal Koch also addressed in his speech of thanks [DE].

Cardinal Koch was accompanied by Fr Dr Augustinus Sander OSB, German Official of the Western Section of the DPCU.

_{© Photos: Dr. Heiko Merkelbach}