Protestant church congress kicks off with an opening church service at Brandenburg Gate

Record ID: 876754

  • Title: Protestant church congress kicks off with an opening church service at Brandenburg Gate
  • Date: 24th May 2017
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, JUSTIN WELBY, SAYING: "I wear each day a cross of nails, a 'Nagelkreuz'. A Conventry-cross. It symbolizes both the pain and suffering, but also the fellowship of reconciliation. Of hope though Christ, even in the face of hatred." SUN BEAMS ONTO AUDIENCE AT OPENING CHURCH SERVICE FOR PROTESTANT CHURCH CONVENTION, WITH CHANCELLORY IN BACKGROUND WIDE OF CEREMONY OF PROTESTANT WORKING GROUP OF THE CONSERVATIVE CDU (CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC) AND CSU (MERKEL'S SISTER PARTY - CHRISTIAN SOCIALIST) PARTY (EAK) AUDIENCE WELBY ARRIVING, BEING GREETED BY MERKEL, SITTING DOWN AUDIENCE GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL WALKING TO LECTERN (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "And I think we need that [Luther's passion and clear words] today, so that we can find orientation in our world, how can we get to the bottom of things, how can we learn from history, and if we allow ourselves a Lutheran view - or as we imagine it to be - at the Reformation than we have a real chance to make those days that are now ahead of us to days of orientation." MERKEL LEAVING STAGE
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2017 20:38
  • Keywords: Merkel opening church service scouts security protestant church congress Germany
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0056I76NNR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Berlin is is hosting some tens of thousands of believers for the annual protestant church convention which is taking place in Berlin and Wittenberg.
    This year's event has been overshadowed by the attack in Manchester, where a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a performance of the U.S. pop singer Ariana Grande, and security is high, especially with former U.S. president Barack Obama expected.
    As a nod to the attack in Manchester, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that the belief will overcome the fear and insecurities in today's world.
    The 5-day long meeting of believers under the motto "You see me" was officially opened on Wednesday (May 24) evening with a big open air mass infront of the Brandenburg Gate and coincides with the 500th anniversary of the protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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