Archbishop and Professor Thomas Paul Schirrmacher is President of the International Council of the International Society for Human Rights (Frankfurt), President of the International Institute for Religious Freedom (Costa Rica, Vancouver, Bonn), Co-President of Religions for Peace (New York) and President of the Bonn Abrahamic Center for Global Peace, Justice and Sustainability (BAC). Schirrmacher was Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance 2021–2024. Prior to that he served WEA as Associate Secretary General for Theological Concerns and Intrafaith and Interfaith Relations.
Thomas Schirrmacher has worked with Pope Francis in a variety of official roles, both for the World Evangelical Alliance and the International Society for Human Rights. He accompanied the pope on three state visits and also visited him privately at Santa Marta on numerous occasions, often around the pontiff’s birthday. These are his reflections.
Separating anti-semitism against Jews from criticism of Israel's state is not so clear cut in the current global climate. Regardless of opinion on Israel's response, we should take care not to attack Jews. In this commentary, Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher affirms Israel's right to self defense and warns against antisemitic tendencies. Attacks against Christians could be next.
