Beyond divisions: Renovabis’ challenge to rebuild society

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 to polarization,” since the principle of synodality is to invite people to sit together, listen to one another and engage in dialogue, seek a better mutual understanding, and find sustainable solutions. It is, therefore, a tool for building concrete bridges among Christians and within European civil society.

Participants in the Renovabis Congress, including Cardinal Grech (right) and Cardinal Marx (left)

Turning differences into dialogue

Among the experts who took part in the event was Croatian theologian Ana Raffai, who recalled that democracy requires a healthy “culture of conflict,” capable of turning differences into critical engagement rather than tribal withdrawal.

This warning was echoed by Slovak sociologist Hugo Gloss, who cautioned against retreating into self-referential “value bubbles.”

Reflecting instead on the role of politics, Volker Ullrich, head of the Federal Agency for Civic Education, said that politics cannot impose social cohesion or grassroots engagement: “This must come from society, from people who believe in the importance of cohesion and commitment to others, in the highest sense of solidarity and charity.”

The Freising Dialogue Award

The conference also included the presentation of the Freising Dialogue Award, given to organizations, individuals, and initiatives that promote cooperation, the reduction of prejudice, and peace in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, presided over the ceremony. In his opening address, he emphasized the importance of forces that bring peoples together across national borders and promote cooperation on an equal footing.

Advertisement

The award went to the Kreisau Foundation for European Understanding, an organization established in 1990 and based in Poland. The foundation is involved in international activities for young people and education, as well as German-Polish exchanges. Its projects reach approximately 16,000 young people from Eastern and Western Europe each year.

Cardinal Marx described the foundation as a model for the future of democracy: a functioning society, he said, depends on an active civil society that creates spaces for encounter and understanding. These tasks cannot be carried out by the state alone; institutions such as the Church are also called upon to assume responsibility for freedom.

The cardinal described a united Europe as a historic project of reconciliation whose preservation requires a sustained effort:

“We belong to one another. Do not let anyone take that away from you. Renovabis has a mission to show its colours in its partner countries as well, which means being able to make its voice heard, but also resisting every form of nationalism. Nationalism is a fundamental evil that we must oppose. The Catholic Church can never be in harmony with nationalism… There is no nation superior to another.”

Cardinal Marx speaks during the ceremony for the conferral of the Freising Dialogue Award

Cohesion begins with each of us

Summing up after two intense days, Renovabis director Father Thomas Schwartz emphasized that responsibility for social cohesion cannot be delegated exclusively to politicians or academics, but requires a daily individual commitment to listening and building bridges.

Father Schwartz also stressed that social cohesion is not merely a subject for scientific analysis and political debate:

“It begins with each of us. The way we listen, how we deal with differing positions, how we take responsibility and build bridges is the mandate we take home from this congress.”

Berlin 2027: Focus on mental health

The organization’s work will now continue toward its next congress, scheduled to take place in Berlin from September 22 to 24, 2027, with a particular focus on psychological support and mental health in areas of Eastern Europe affected by war and profound social upheaval.

Renovabis will thus turn the spotlight on those in need of support, but also on those who become points of reference for others.

Under the theme Finding a Foothold. Being an Anchor. Ways Out of Psychological Distress in Eastern Europe, the aid organization will consider a complex issue encompassing sensitive problems such as loneliness, addiction, the psychological consequences of war, insecurity, and profound social upheaval.

A panel at the Renovabis Congress