” “The 96th German Katholikentag, due in Saarbrücken until May 28th, was opened yesterday by Hans Joachin Meyer, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics, and by mgr. Reinhard Marx, bishop of Trier, before the delegates of the Orthodox Church and the Churches of the Reform. Since 1848, when the German Catholics asserted the rights of the Church against a more and more interfering social State, German Catholics have met every two years, in one German Länder, to testify their endorsement, faith and social commitment. In the next few days, discussions will be held on several subjects, directly touching on the social life of the country and of Europe. According to the organisers, "this Katholikentag intends to show our confidence in and support of the current government headed by Angela Merkel, so that it can continue its reform plan at this particular time of transition". In those same days, the delegates of 18 national lay councils from 18 countries will meet to live together the experience of the German Katholikentag and hold their annual statutory assembly. The reflection of these days, explains Maria Draajers, president of the European Forum of National Lay Committees, "will help revive the social and political commitment of Catholics in Europe". "Our conditions she concludes must be training grounds for the political training of all of the new generations of the continent".
