Overview

• The 2025 Kirchentag in Hanover began with two opening services, each attended by approximately 40,000 people, followed by an 'Abend der Begegnung' festival in the city center.
• President Frank-Walter Steinmeier highlighted the event as a platform for addressing pressing societal and personal questions, while Kirchentagspräsidentin Anja Siegesmund reaffirmed the church's political responsibility.
• The event features 1,500 cultural, liturgical, and socio-political activities across over 60 venues, with an expected daily attendance of 150,000 visitors.
• High-profile attendees include Angela Merkel, who will lead a Bible study on May 1, as well as Olaf Scholz, Christian Wulff, and Luisa Neubauer, among others.
• Enhanced security measures, including additional surveillance, drone bans, and road closures, have been implemented to ensure safety throughout the event.