Source: Renovabis
Social cohesion in Europe is under immense pressure. Polarisation, a loss of trust in institutions, digital bubbles and the consequences of the war against Ukraine have weakened social bonds. These developments have far-reaching consequences: loneliness is becoming a mass phenomenon, mental health issues are on the rise, and the emphasis on individual uniqueness reinforces tendencies that make cooperation more difficult. The lower the level of cohesion, the higher the cost of cooperation. This affects Central, Eastern and Western Europe alike, though driven by partly different factors. Europe may already have crossed a tipping point – each new crisis is increasingly difficult to manage. Churches have enormous potential to bring people together, foster trust and put solidarity into practice. However, they themselves are affected by divisions and are confronted with forces that have a polarising effect. At the congress, we would like to address how these developments can be countered, what avenues for action are available, and how our societies can grow closer together again.
These topics are the focus of the 30th International Congress Renovabis, to which we warmly invite you to Freising and to our live stream. Under the title “Beyond Polarisation – Perspectives for Social Cohesion in East and West”, from 16 to 18 September 2026, a distinguished panel of speakers – including Cardinal Dr Mario Grech, Dr Volker Ullrich, Dr Regina Arant, Hugo Gloss, Anahit Mkhoyan, Bettina Locklair, Dr Sanda Smoljo-Dobrovoljski, Dr Toms Rostoks, Ana Raffai, Dr Christopher Koska, Dr Shkelzen Marku and Zbigniew Nosowski – invite you to listen to lectures and participate in panel discussions and in-depth dialogue groups.
Conference languages: German, English, Italian
Participation fee: In situ participation at the conference in Freising costs a flat fee of 100,- euros (including meals). Guests from Central and Eastern Europe pay half the fee, i.e. 50,- euros.
A subsidy on travel and accommodation costs, or an exemption from the participation fee may be available to participants from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, subject to sufficient justification. Please fill in the adjacent form and send it to kongress@renovabis.de by 2 August at the latest. Registration to attend the conference is separate from this process and will remain open thereafter (i.e. until 30 August 2026).
If you would like to stay overnight in Freising, we ask that you arrange your own accommodation. The following hotels have set aside a block of rooms for conference participants, which can be booked independently using the key words provided below – please also note the relevant deadlines:
Hotel Bayerischer Hof Freising
Untere Hauptstr. 3, D-85354 Freising
https://www.bayerischerhof-freising.de/en/
95 euros (single room), 120 euros (double room/single use), 140 euros (per night for two people in a double room) – each including breakfast
Booking by no later than 1 August 2026 quoting the key word „Renovabis“:
Tel.: +49 (0)8161 53830 | info@bayerischerhof-freising.de
Mercure Hotel München Airport Freising
Dr.-von-Daller-Str. 1-3, D-85356 Freising
https://all.accor.com/hotel/A0Q8/index.en.shtml
109 euros (single room), 114 euros (double room/single use), 119 euros (per night for two people in a double room) – each including breakfast
Booking by no later than 18 August 2026 quoting the key word „Renovabis“:
Tel.: +49 (0)8161 5320 | ha0q8-re@accor.com
Isar Hotel
Isarstr. 4, D-85356 Freising
https://www.isarhotel.de/en_isar-hotel-freising.htm
99 euros (single room or double room single use), 130 euros (per night for two people in a double room) – each including breakfast
Booking by no later than 19 August 2026 quoting the key word „Renovabis“:
Tel.: +49 (0)8161 8650 | info@isarhotel.de
Guest House of the Deula Bayern GmbH Vocational Training Centre
Wippenhauser Str. 65, D-85354 Freising
https://www.deula.de/standorte/deula-freising/ueber-uns/gaestehaus-verpflegung/gaestehaus (in German only)
54 euros (single room Category B), 67 euros (single room Category A) – plus 7,80 euros for breakfast
Booking by no lather than 1 September 2026 quoting the key word „Zusammenhalt“:
Tel.: +49 (0)8161 48780 | info@deula-bayern.de
Please note:
All hotel bookings must be made independently; you are responsible for covering the cost of your accommodation (this does not apply to contributors or participants who are provided with accommodation as part of an approved subsidy).
Renovabis has been organising an annual international congress on behalf of the German Bishops' Conference since 1997. This event with participants from all parts of Europe serves to inform about and discuss important developments in church and society in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, and also addresses topics of pan-European importance. Over the years, the International Congress Renovabis has developed into an important forum for dialogue between people from the eastern and western parts of Europe.