# German religious and political leaders address polarization > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-religious-and-political-leaders-address-polarization > Updated: 2026-09-20T08:40:49.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. German government and religious leaders are engaging in dialogue to address rising social polarization and threats to democratic values. In Hesse, the state government met with Protestant and Catholic church leaders to discuss strengthening social cohesion. Prime Minister Boris Rhein described the churches as “reliable constants” and called for “cohesion instead of division,” while Bishop Dr. Beate Hofmann emphasized that religious institutions must counter polarization and address attacks on democratic coexistence by far-right positions. Following recent elections, religious leaders from the Rhineland, Westphalia, and Lippische Landeskirche issued a joint statement warning that increased support for far-right parties is fueling hostility and threatening the safety of migrant and Jewish communities. Additionally, former Federal President Christian Wulff participated in an interreligious dialogue in Delmenhorst, noting the growing difficulty of building societal bridges amidst rising antisemitism and Islamophobia. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-20: German religious leaders and Christian Wulff address social polarization German religious leaders and former President Christian Wulff have voiced concerns regarding rising far-right influence, social polarization, and antisemitism following recent elections. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-religious-leaders-and-christian-wulff-address-social-polarization ### 2026-09-14: Hesse government and church leaders meet to promote social cohesion The Hessian government and church leaders met in Wiesbaden to discuss strengthening social cohesion and defending democratic values against societal polarization and far-right influences. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hesse-government-and-church-leaders-meet-to-promote-social-cohesion --- Cite as: German religious and political leaders address polarization. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-religious-and-political-leaders-address-polarization