"We must celebrate Christmas as Christians. We must not get used to people sowing discord, causing unspeakable suffering and wanting to divide our society," he added. Christmas is both the festival of powerlessness and hope. "And this year in particular, the festival of mourning and compassion for the victims of Magdeburg."
With a view to the early federal elections, the Archbishop said that honesty is not easy in times of election campaigns. "We are a rich country, but those who expect something from the people usually have a bad hand."
However, anyone who believes that the next government will achieve a turnaround without changing anything for individual citizens will be disappointed. "It is not a law of nature that growing prosperity goes hand in hand with an increasingly easy working life. We need to get used to this idea again," warned Koch. "It is unacceptable that we work less and less with full wage equalisation. Demographic change alone means this won't work."
Against Milei and Musk
In this context, the clergyman spoke out against calls from FDP leader Christian Lindner that Germany should dare to do a little more Milei and Musk.
"I am very sceptical about radical solutions, whether it's about restructuring public finances or reducing bureaucracy. Both issues are important, but Germany does not need Milei and Musk as role models. And radical downsizing alone does not create prospects for the future."
The Archbishop appealed to leaders in business, politics, culture and society to change the mood and not allow themselves to be paralysed by pessimism. "I expect leaders to channel all their energy and creativity into areas that will move us forward."
Germany can only compete economically with the USA and China with innovations in areas such as artificial intelligence and climate technology. "We have nothing other than our bright minds. If the management team only comments on the situation from the sidelines in this situation and doesn't charge and fight itself, it won't work."