Beyond divisions: Renovabis’ challenge to rebuild society

At the 30th Congress of the German Catholic aid organization “Renovabis,” over 200 experts discuss polarization, digital echo chambers, and the role of the Churches in building social cohesion. Read all  

By Mario Galgano True cohesion does not mean the absence of disagreement, but rather the ability to remain united despite differences. This was the central message to emerge from the 30th International Congress of Renovabis, the charitable organization of the Catholic Church in Germany for Eastern Europe, which brought together more than 200 experts and delegates from 26 countries across Eastern and Western Europe in Freising from September 16 to 18. Titled Beyond Polarization, the gathering focused on the fault lines of an increasingly fragmented society, divided by digital echo chambers, geopolitical crises, and growing distrust in institutions. A call for dialogue Among the principal contributions was that of Cardinal

Mario Grech, who issued an appeal for open dialogue in the face of a world that “risks losing its humanity.” Speaking to Vatican Media on the sidelines of the event, the Maltese cardinal emphasized that Renovabis not only supports the General Secretariat of the Synod, but also enables local Churches to participate actively in this shared journey: “Although they do not speak directly about synodality, they address, perhaps in language that is more easily understood, precisely the essence of what we mean by this term.” Regarding the conference’s central theme in Freising—the overcoming of polarization—the cardinal highlighted the unifying function of the synodal approach: “For me, synodality is the antidote