Spirit of reconciliation – power of understanding: Remembering Ludwig Mehlhorn
09. April 2025In memory of Ludwig Mehlhorn, who played a key role in fostering a new relationship between Poland and Germany after 1989, we would like to draw your attention to a special event. The Evangelical Academy in Berlin invites you to join in commemorating him and his work at an event titled “Spirit of reconciliation – power of understanding.”
The Spirit of reconciliation – power of understanding
: A Tribute to Ludwig
Mehlhorn, April 28, 2025, Evangelical Academy in Berlin
Ludwig Mehlhorn was, among other things, the former director of studies at the Evangelical Academy in Berlin and was one of the key figures in shaping a new relationship between Poland and Germany after 1989. He was one of the co-founders of the Kreisau-Initiative e. V. and was actively involved for many years in the founding and development of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe.
In his opposition to the East German government and the communist government in Poland, he developed a spirit of resistance that paved the way for many projects after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The founding of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe and Mehlhorn’s contribution to the European Solidarność Center in Gdańsk are just two examples.
To mark the unveiling of a Berlin commemorative plaque at Ludwig Mehlhorn’s longtime place of work – the EKD building and the headquarters of the Evangelical Academy in Berlin – the Evangelical Academy invites you to an event and asks:
Where do we stand today in terms of European integration? What role do human rights play in day-to-day politics in Europe and around the world? And in the face of war, extremism, and human rights violations at Europe’s borders, how can we maintain the courage to uphold the “spirit of reconciliation”?
On 28th April 2025, at 5:00 p.m., a commemorative plaque will be unveiled at the EKD building in memory of Ludwig Mehlhorn. Following the unveiling, the event will take place at the Evangelical Academy in Berlin starting at 6:00 p.m.
The keynote address will be delivered by Basil Kerski, director of the European Solidarność Center in Gdańsk. The panel discussion “Overcoming Despair—Human Rights and Empathy” will feature Oleksandra Bienert (Alliance of Ukrainian Organisations), Ole Jantschek (Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe), Farangis Sawgand (poet and former member of the Afghan Parliament), and Sarah Schumayer (Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe) will engage in a discussion.
You can find more information about registration and the programme schedule here and on the website of the Evangelical Academy in Berlin.
We would be very happy to see many friends of Krzyżowa and members of the association there again.