Mayor of Cologne visits Bethlehem
Ten years of city-partnership – High ranked Delegates of the municipality and the friendship association are interested in Christian-Muslim dialog at BU
Bethlehem. The Mayor of Cologne, Mrs. Elfi Scho-Antwerpes (Labor) visited BU Campus on November 17th, leading a high level delegation numbering twelve person. On her visit to the oldest university in the West Bank, and the only Catholic one in the Holy Land she was accompanied by former Mayor Dr. Norbert Burger, now chairman of the Cologne-Bethlehem Friendship Association, the chairperson of the parties represented in the parliament of
Two mayors and a Vice-Chancellor:
Br. Daniel awards former Mayor. Dr. Burger and
current Mayor Mrs. Scho-Antwerpes
with the Bethlehem University Medal.
Cologne, other members of the Friendship Association and officers of the municipality, including Mr. Frieder Wolf, chair for International Affairs at the Cologne Municipality. The delegation was greeted by the university’s executive council, the vice-chancellor Br. Daniel, FSC and vice-presidents and some German speaking members of the faculty and the student body.
In his address the vice-chancellor Br. Daniel remembered BU’s traditional and close ties to Cologne, which even exceed the official partnership in duration. For more than ten years now, BU has an annual exchange program with the Catholic University of Applied Sciences in Cologne. Br. Daniel thanked the people of Cologne for their support in the major political questions, but also in the small, more personal issues. Illustrating this, he
Above: Also with the Delegation were the chairpersons of the parties represented in
the parliament of Cologne: Mr. Breite (FDP), Mr. Börschel (SPD), Mr. Granitzka (CDU)
and the Mayors Dr. Burger and Mrs. Scho-Antwerpes (from the left to the right)
pointed out that Ibrahim Abu-Eid, who went to the World Youth Day 05 in Cologne, and was also present at the reception was provided first-row tickets for a Papal mass by the Friendship Association, chaired by Dr. Norbert Burger. Thanks to them, the Students from Bethlehem, the city the three magies once went to, were able to experience the World Youth Day in their sister city of Cologne, the city in which’s world- famous cathedral the remains of the three wise man are revered today, in a unforgettable way.
After Mayor Scho-Antwerpes had thanked Br. Daniel for the warm welcome she expressed her gratitude and hope for the cooperation between Cologne and Bethlehem and handed him a model of the tower top of cologne’s cathedral as token of this friendship. Following her address, both, mayor and vice-chancellor signed the book “People like us”. Published by the Friendship Association. This book has portraits of people from both cities on two pages facing each other and striving to show the similarity of the people of Cologne and Bethlehem. Having his portraits opposite to that of the chancellor of Cologne University, Br. Daniel is also pictured in the book.
„Peopel like us“: Mayor and Vice-Chancellor sign the book published by the Friendship Association Cologne-Bethlehem.
Afterwards members of the delegation watched a brief movie to learn about the history and background of BU, founded in 1973 by American DeLaSalle Brothers. Mayor Scho-Antwerpes, who feels especially responsible for the integration of Cologne’s large Muslim community, showed great interest in the Christian-Muslim Dialog at BU. This is given special attention at this university, since some 70% of the student body are Muslim, while 30% are Christian. Additionally to this, the delegation’s interest was also drawn to the fact, that up to 75% of BU’s budget are financed through fundraising, while only 12% are paid by the Vatican, and another 12% by Student Tuition.
During the concluding tour of the campus, the delegation members also had the chance to talk to BU’s Student Ambassadors and discuss current issues of Bethlehem.
