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Courage to hope: Christmas message in Trier Cathedral inspires!
Christmas in Rhineland-Palatinate: Thorsten Latzel encourages courage. Service on December 24th in Düsseldorf, broadcast live.
Courage to hope: Christmas message in Trier Cathedral inspires!
On December 25, 2025, Christmas will be celebrated in many communities and houses in Cologne, a festival that has had great significance for Christians for 2,000 years. This year, voices from the Protestant church are bringing an encouraging message to believers, under the overall theme of “courage”. Above the festival of love floats the message given by the President of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, Dr. Thorsten Latzel, announced in his Christmas speech. And this is: “Don’t be afraid!” These words, once spoken by an angel to Mary and the shepherds, have lost none of their relevance.
In his speech, Latzel emphasized that Christmas is a “time of courage” these days. The spirit of de-fear is at the forefront because many people have fears - be it about war, loneliness, old age, job loss or climate change. These fears are fueled by extremists seeking to make political capital out of crises. Nevertheless, God does not leave us alone, emphasizes Latzel and encourages us to stand up for one another and spread hope. “Be brave!” is the key message that also frames the Christmas story, a story of light, love and community - a counterprogram to the dark sides of human history.
Christmas as a festival of love
The message of Christmas is inextricably linked to the incarnation of God. Jesus, born in a humble manger, symbolizes God's closeness to people and brings believers the hope of peace and salvation. This incarnation fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament and declares Jesus to be the promised Messiah who not only brings light into the darkness, but also love into people's hearts. Archdiocese of Paderborn In this context, offers deeper insights into the meaning of the Christmas story and its central themes.
December 25th is celebrated as Jesus' symbolic birthday, which was subsequently set by the Catholic Church. The first Christmas celebration is documented in Rome in 336 AD. The day also falls during the winter solstice, which means that it is also a symbol of light in connection with the “Light of the World”, Jesus.
Community and light of hope
In the Christmas message, Latzel also emphasizes the importance of community. “Like Mary, the shepherds and the wise men, we should set out and go beyond boundaries for others,” he calls. This happens not only in words, but also in actions - for example in homeless shelters and crisis regions such as Ukraine or Sudan, where the plight of the people is unimaginable. The presence of Jesus in difficult life situations becomes the driving force for the courage to live and the help that many need.
To conclude his message, Latzel encourages people to live in awe of God's love, thereby defeating fear of the world. The traditional celebrations also include Christmas Vespers, which Latzel holds on Christmas Eve in Düsseldorf's Johanneskirche. Those interested can follow the service live via a YouTube stream (start: 5:30 p.m.). If you would like more information about this, you can contact press spokeswoman Cornelia Breuer-Iff.
With this in mind, let us celebrate Christmas and carry the message of courage and love into the world. Christmas is not just a celebration, but a call to be courageous and to support each other - in good times and in difficult times. Rösrath Evangelical Church sent this message to us clearly and kindly. “Don’t be afraid!”