An ecumenical service was also held for the European Championship at the venue of the two opening matches of Group A, in Munich and Cologne.
The German Nationalelf played the opening match on Friday in Munich against the Scottish national team. In the St. Michael's Church in the city center, the bishop responsible for sports of the German Bishops' Conference, Stefan Oster, also spoke at the service in Munich, where he said:
"In the end, only one team wins. However, I hope that above all, the joy of the game and the community will win.”
The bishop of Passau emphasized that
"in football, a defeat is not the end, even then you can recognize the beauty, strength and joy that comes from the game."
Before Saturday's Hungarian-Swiss match, a similar service took place in Cologne Cathedral, in which Hungarian fans also participated. On the occasion, the parish priest of the cathedral, Robert Kleine, greeted the participating fans and said that this occasion was organized so that at the tournament
"pray for peace and friendship among the participating nations."
During the ecumenical prayer session, Cologne Lutheran pastor Bernhard Seiger said that the international event gives locals the opportunity to get to know "what it's like in Scotland, Hungary or Switzerland. We want to experience this hospitality, diversity and openness to each other in Cologne as well. God did not create us all the same, and with openness we can accept and respect the uniqueness of others."
Source: domradio.de
Featured image: The Bishop of Passau with the European Championship ball/KNA/DR
