wfn.org | Bonhoeffer: Ecumenical theologian and martyr

["Ruth Gill" <rag@cec-kek.org>]

The Conference of European Churches is pleased to forward this press release
from the International Bonhoeffer Congress

Bonhoeffer: Ecumenical theologian and martyr

"Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a prominent ecumenical theologian", said Prof. Wolf
Kroetke (Germany) during the last-but-one plenary session today of the 9th
International Bonhoeffer Congress, meeting in Rome from 6-11 June.
Bonhoeffer, Kroetke added, was not only engaged in ecumenical activities at
the international level, but also played a key role in raising ecumenical
awareness among German Christians during the difficult years of the Nazi
regime. 

The ecumenical relevance of Bonhoeffer will also be at the centre of the
closing session tomorrow morning, a panel with Cardinal Walter Kasper
(President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), Bishop
Margot Kaessmann (Lutheran Bishop of Hanover, Germany) and Rev. Dr Ishmael
Noko (General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, based in Geneva,
Switzerland).

In the previous plenaries (see also our Press release No. 2, 7 June 2004),
Prof. Fulvio Ferrario (Italy) had outlined the wide reception of  Bonhoeffer
among Italian Catholics. In the Italian context however, he said, it is
important "to point out Bonhoeffer's relationship with the Protestant
tradition, especially with Luther".

After Ferrario's presentation on Tuesday morning, an international panel on
"The Future of Bonhoeffer Studies" underlined that, while much of the past
scholarship has focused upon the biography of Bonhoeffer and his German
context, the future will involve more focus upon Bonhoeffer's relationship to
and with other scholars and the other contexts in which he is being read (eg
South Africa and Latin America).

A series of 10 Seminar sessions also investigated the different aspects of 
the Congress theme, "Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Christian Humanism".

Yesterday, participants visited the Jewish Synagogue of Rome and met with
representatives of the Catholic Sant'Egidio Community. The Chief  Rabbi of
Rome, Dr Riccardo Di Segni, spoke about the growth of inter-religious
dialogue in Italy, but also on the need to fight anti-semitism and to promote
real pluralism and religious freedom. The Sant'Egidio Community presented the
new "Icon of the New Martyrs" painted in oriental style by Renata Sciachi for
the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all'Isola. The icon depicts Christian martyrs
of the 20th century from all Christian traditions, including Dietrich
Bonhoeffer. 

The Congress will close on Friday 11 June. For more information please refer
to our website www.bonhoeffercongress.org or phone Luca Negro, (0039) 335 68
69 974.