“The Catholic Church in Germany will continue to accompany in a constructive manner the work of the federal government and we will make our contribution to the ongoing debate”. With these words, Card. Reinhard Marx, President of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), congratulated Angela Merkel for her re-election as chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. Card. Marx thanked Chancellor Merkel for the many meetings that took place over the past parliamentary term, meetings which were characterized by great confidence. “This latter period – Card. Marx said in a press release on behalf of the German Bishops – has been characterized in particular by the issue of migrants, which will remain a central issue even in the new parliamentary term. We encourage her to continue along the path undertaken, the path that we have always supported. We too, as a Church, must not withdraw our support”. After a long period of transition, the German parties have finally reached a deal, and now Germany can face the great challenges lying ahead. In the coalition agreement, ambitious objectives have been set, concerning “both the social cohesion of our country – the president of the German Bishops said – and social issues, the challenges of the digital world and the responsibility that Germany has at the international level”. “All this can only be achieved if we keep in mind the forces that unite us in Europe”, Card. Marx added. “We therefore welcome the fact that this issue plays such an important role in the coalition agreements between the ruling parties”.