German religious leaders and Christian Wulff address social polarization

Religious leaders and public figures in Germany are addressing rising social tensions and political polarization. Leaders from the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, the Evangelical Church of Westphalia, and the Lippische Landeskirche issued a joint statement expressing deep concern following recent state and local elections. They noted a significant rise in support for far-right parties and warned that democratic engagement is being met with hostility, media skepticism, and deepening social divisions that threaten the safety of Jewish and migrant communities.

In a separate event in Delmenhorst, former Federal President Christian Wulff participated in an interreligious dialogue hosted by Mayor Petra Gerlach. During the exchange, Wulff highlighted the increasing difficulty of building societal bridges, citing structural and social issues such as rising antisemitism and Islamophobia. Both the church leaders and Wulff emphasized the necessity of dialogue and respect to combat growing fears and social fragmentation within the country.