Archbishop Heße endorses Merkel's "We can do this" as motivating
Archbishop Stefan Heße, the head of the Catholic Church in Hamburg, has praised Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open Germany's borders to immigrants in 2015, stating that it was the right move in retrospect to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Heße, who has been vocal about immigration issues, finds the recognition of Germany as an immigration country, as stated in the coalition agreement, to be a positive aspect.
However, the Archbishop has expressed concern over the recent suspension of family reunification for immigrants holding subsidiary protection status. This suspension, effective since late July 2025, is part of a broader government effort to curb migration in response to capacity constraints in federal states and broader immigration policy reforms.
The Archbishop believes that stable family environments are crucial for long-term integration and social cohesion, and limiting reunification may undermine these goals. He appeals to the federal government to reconsider its stance on immigration issues, particularly the role of family reunification.
Heße emphasizes the Church's role in supporting the weak, specifically in the issue of immigration. Heße, along with Catholics, Protestants, and civil society actors, works together to support migrants. He does not support "prison-like conditions" for asylum seekers waiting for a response to their application and advocates for a common asylum system for fair distribution of immigrants within the EU.
Many immigrants who came to Germany in 2015 are now well-integrated and are working in various sectors, such as healthcare and as bus drivers. Hundreds of thousands of Syrian immigrants have been naturalized and are now part of German society.
Despite the criticism, Heße still views Merkel's phrase "We can do this" as an encouragement for refugees and helpers. He does not believe that Merkel's phrase should be criticized. However, he finds the suspension of family reunification problematic and believes that the Church should always stand on the side of the weak, particularly in the context of immigration.
Sources:
- Deutsche Welle
- BBC News
- The Local
- Reuters
- The Guardian
The Archbishop's concerns over the suspension of family reunification for immigrants highlight a potential conflict between the government's migration policy-and-legislation and his beliefs on long-term integration and social cohesion. In light of this, he urges the federal government to reconsider its stance on family reunification, emphasizing its importance in immigration matters. Additionally, the Archbishop continues to advocate for a fair general-news approach to asylum systems and policies, advocating for a common EU system for the distribution of immigrants.
