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Several hundred people gathered at Magdeburg Cathedral on December 21 for an ecumenical prayer service. The service was held to remember the victims of the December 20 Christmas market attack in the central German city, which resulted in five deaths, including a 9-year-old child, and left over 40 people injured, some critically.
Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg expressed the community's feelings of being "sad and angry, helpless and fearful, uncertain and desperate, speechless and stunned, and deeply affected." He stated, "We are here in the cathedral tonight with feelings that cannot be grasped."
The service was attended by injured victims, their relatives, rescue workers, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Many others watched the event from outside on the cathedral square despite cold and rainy weather.
Pope Francis conveyed his sorrow through a telegram to the German president. The message read that he "learned with dismay" about the attack. Cardinal Pietro Parolin noted that Pope Francis "expresses his participation in the grief of those affected" and assures all victims of his spiritual closeness.
At 7:04 p.m., church bells rang to mark the exact time of the attack in Magdeburg. The perpetrator is identified as a 50-year-old doctor who immigrated from Saudi Arabia in 2006. He surrendered to police at the scene after driving into a crowd.
Bishop Feige emphasized unity during his address: "Together we stand by the side of those who are mourning... who are afraid for injured relatives or who were at the Christmas market on Friday." Protestant Bishop Friedrich Kramer added: “We are shocked and ask ourselves: Is there still a safe place?”
A memorial was organized near St. John’s Church where flowers and tributes were laid. Emergency counsellor Corinna Pagels provided support at this site, saying her role involved "listening, hugging, comforting."
Chancellor Scholz assured state support for victims of what he described as a "terrible, insane act." Earlier statements from Bishop Georg Bätzing and Bishop Kirsten Fehrs expressed shared grief across Germany and gratitude towards emergency services.
The incident has deeply affected many just days before Christmas Eve. Pagels remarked that she might not put up a tree this year due to how profoundly shaken she feels by recent events.
