- Role models
- Friends
- Dialogue partners
- Dialogue with islamic Leaders
- Favorite places
- My life
- Lectures
- On the go
- Funny
- Fun about myself
- Snapshots
- For media use
Role models
My great grandfather Friedrich-Wilhelm Schirrmacher, who for more than 50 years was a history professor in Rostock and exceptionally gifted teacher, about whom I have published various items
Two sociologists of religion in conversation in Istanbul in April 2009: With me is perhaps the most important representative of my field of study, Prof. Peter Berger, from Boston University, Massachusetts, USA
A real model of involvement to help the poor, my longtime friend Colonel V. Doner ("The Samaritan Strategy"), pictured here in 2004 in one of our schools in Nicaragua
Prof. Dr. Christian Schwarz-Schilling, formerly the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, has more than once risked his career and has been a leading thinker for me with respect to mediation between ethnic groups at odds with each other; pictured here at the 2009 Global Media Forum
Prof. Dr. Ralph Winter (1924-2009), Pasadena, California, USA, since 1979 my unforgettable mentor in missiology, cultural anthropology and alternative theological instruction
Archbishop Athanasios, the de facto Patriarch of the Albanian Orthodox Church, built this church up from sratch after 1990
The pastor of the church of my childhood and youth played a major role for my personal faith.
Hermann Groehe, German minister of health, former general secretary of Mrs Merkels party, dedicated Christian in government, that pushed into religious freedom research (2014)
Friends
Thomas Schirrmacher meets with famous Christian songwriters Siegfried and Oliver Fietz © Martin Warnecke
Zoltán Balog, Calvinist and Minister for Human Resources under Viktor Orbán in Hungary
Ralph Freund, Vice President of Republican Oversees Germany, who regular defends Trump in TV talkshows in Germany
Commission for Religious Freedom of the World Evangelical Alliance
Snapshot of the board table at the annual general meeting of the International Society of Human Rights (15/3/2009), middle: Edgar Lamm, right: Prof Menno Aden. Photo: Markus Scherf
A true Bavarian buddy, with whom I have much to lough. Martin Schweiger (Munic, Singapore), the most patent patent-attorney I know! (April 2009)
Together with Rev. Burkhard Affeld in cold Ephesus (March 2000)
The longstanding manager of our charity 'Giving Hands', Horst-Jürgen Kreie, here unloding donations for our orphanage in Sambia
Friend of human rights and religious freedom, Prof. Dr. Alex Ojakur, Kampala, Uganda, here in Istanbul (April 2009)
With my older brother Klaus in Washington Zoo (Sept 2007)
The trio of deans of the Austrian branch of our Martin Bucer Theological Seminary (names under http://www.bucer.eu/oesterreich.html)
Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana from Sri Lanka, Director Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation of the World Council of Churches - here discussion the code of ethics for missions at the University of Oslo (19.6.2009)
The Most Reverend Bishop William Mikler - an inspiration and blessing to me
Os Guiness (center) and myself during the launch of our Global Charter of Conscience in Dublin, Ireland.
With my close friend and colleague Thomas K. Johnson in front of the Pontifical Academy of Science in Vatican Gardens during a consultation
The Bishop of the Reformed Church in Hungary
Rev Dr Sotitua Nababan, ephorus (bishop) of the Protestanet Christian Batak Church (HKBP) on the island of Sumatra, the largest church in Indonesia founded by German missionaries of the Rhenish Mission
Dialogue partners
Schirrmacher visited the President of the National Alliance (“La Asociación Nacional de Evangélicos de Bolivia”) Dr. Henry Nogales Peredo and other representatives of Bolivia in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia).
Schirrmacher visited in Santiago de Chile (Chile) the President of the National Alliance Obispo Emiliano Soto Valenzuela (“Mesa Ampliada”) and other representatives.
On July 19, 2023, Schirrmacher visited Pastor Louder Garavedián, the General Secretary of the Uruguay National Alliance in Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay.
WEA Secretary General Bishop Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher (left) and FaithInvest CEO Martin Palmer after signing the collaboration agreement. © FaithInvest
Thomas Schirrmacher in conversation with Gerd Müller © Martin Warnecke
The WEA delegation with the Secretary General of the Muslim World League © WEA/Martin Warnecke
From left to right: Reinhardt Schink (General Secretary of the German Evangelical Alliance), Daniela Städter (chief editor of IDEA), Ulrich Parzany (evangelist who succeeded Billy Graham in the German evangelistic rallies) and Thomas Schirrmacher © IDEA
Close old ally in the fight against human trafficking Gaby Wentland Mission Freedom
Thomas Schirrmacher met Dr Jean-François Mouhot, National Director of A Rocha France
Meeting with Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity
The Secretary General discusses Syria with the Syriac Archbishop Dionysius John Kawak © Schirrmacher
The WEA Secretary General and his team visited Daryl G. Kimball, CEO of the Arms Control Association in Washington
© Thomas Paul Schirrmacher
In conversation with John Moore, Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Thomas Schirrmacher met with representatives of the Muslim World League to prepare a visit of the Secretary General of WEA to Saudi Arabia in May 2022. As both attended meetings in the Vatican, they met in aside room of the Apostolic Palace.
The Secretary General of WEA meets the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Churches, His Holiness Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul)
Schirrmacher in discussion with Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations
Schirrmacher discussing with Gady Gronich, CEO, European Conference of Rabbis © private
On the first day of the war against Ukraine, staff of the WEA in Bonn listens to Manuel Boehm of WEA’s Peace and Reconciliation Network (PRN)
The Secretary General of the WEA visits the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York © WEA
Archbishop Eugene and Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher © WEA/MartinWarnecke
Thomas and Christine Schirrmacher greeting President Jüri Ratas © Martin Warnecke
With the Chair of the Selection Committee of the Congress in Cape Town 2010, the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Luke Orombi
A nice photo from the Panel discussion organised by the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation at the Security Conference in Munich in February 2019, where I talked with the Syrian-Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II and the Chaldean-Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, who both reported most evil developments for Christianity in Syria and Iraq.
With the influential Pakistani Senator Faisal Javed Khan: Hoping and praying that he does not only help Asia Bibi but all Christians in his country. (Photo: Bashy Quraishy)
In Abu Dhabi with the former Director General of the UNESCO, Mrs Irina Georgieva Bokova from Bulgaria, and Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Prime Minister of the Vatican.
In discussion with the new majority leader in the German Federal Parlament (Deutscher Bundestag) after a debate in parliament on religious freedom. In the middle Uwe Heimowski, the Ambassador of the Evangelical Alliance in Germany to the Parlament and Government.
In Berlin with Armen Sargsyan, born 1953 in Erewan, professor of physics, Ambassador, Prime Minister of Armenia from November 1996 to mArch 1997 and since April 2018 for seven years President of the Republic of Armenia.
In discussion with Ilir Meta, since mid 2017 President of Albania, before President of the Parliament and Prime Minister of Albania.
The Federal Minister of Health, Jens Spahn (CDU), lectured at Bonn Universities „BAPP“ (Institute for Practical Politics) on the need to strengthen the middle camp of the voters
Conversion with Germany’s federal minister of justice, Katarina Barley, during the Ahmadiyya Jalsa Salana in Karlsruhe
With Patriarch Matias of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Pile of books for the Patriarch Matias of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, with 40 million members the largest of the old-oriental churches. His full title is The Patriarch (Abuna) of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, His Holiness Abune Mathias I, Sixth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Ichege of the See of Saint Taklehaimanot.
Dr. José Ramos-Horta, Friedensnobelpreisträger und Präsident von Timor-Leste 2007-2012 und Schirrmacher
Prof. Dr. Ingo Hofmann representing the Bahai-community in Germany, and Thomas Schirrmacher, 2017
Member of Parlament of Pakistan and Thomas Schirrmacher in Berlin
EU-Envoy on religious freedom Jan Figel and Thomas Schirrmacher, 2017
US-Ambassador for Religious Freedom David N. Saperstein (til 2017) und Schirrmacher
UN-Special Rapporteur on ForB Ahmed Shaheed and Thomas Schirrmacher, 2017
The Armenian Patriarch and Catholicos Karekin II. from Echmiadzin, Armenia
With the President of the National Congress of Costa Rica, Gonzalo Ramirez
With Grand Imam of Lahore in the largest mosque in the world with 100.000 visitors (2017)
With “Grandfather” Haxhi Baba Edmond Brahimaj, Head of the Bektaschi Muslims
With the Albanian President Buhar Nishani (2015)
With Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev, Metroplit of Volokolamsk and Chair of the Department of External Church Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow
In discussion with Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Vice President of the European Parliament, during the general assembly of ISHR in Bonn
With the Ambassador of North Korea in Brasilia
With Can Dündar, many years editor of Cumhuriyet in Turkey, now in exile in Germany
In the German Parliamentary Society at the Deutsche Bundestag in discussion about peace and reconciliation with the Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, Simplice Mathieu Sarandji (Mitte), and his chief of cabinet Minister Maxime Balalou.
With the President of Lebanon.
With Chancellor Angela Merkel at the evening of the opening of the „Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag“.
Thomas Schirrmacher and Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira Filho at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With Miloslav Kardinal Vlk, til 2010 Archbishop of Prague. He played a major role in the reconciliation between the Czech Republic and Germany
With archbishop Robert Zollitsch, who was chairman of the German Conference of Bishops until 2014, at the Seat of the archbishop in Munich
Left to rigth: Governor David Beasly, the Hungarian Minister Zoltán Balog, the Minister of the Interior of Bavaria
Left to right: Bishop July – Lutheran Church of Württemberg, Bishop Bedford-Strohm – Lutheran Church of Bavaria, Schirrmacher
With the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Damascus
With Lic. Caridad Diego Bello, Chief of the Office of Religious Concerns of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (with orange jacket) and two of her staff
In discussion with Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez, Catholic Archbishop of San Cristóbal de la Habana and President of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference
Bishops at a recent meeting of the Global Christian Forum in Cuba: second from right: the Catholic Archbishop of Havanna, second from left: the Syrian-Orthodox Archbishop of Mount Lebanon near Beirut
Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Army (2015)
Meeting the Coptic Pope and other Patriarchs from the Middle East, Beirut (2015)
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. in Istanbul is the historic head of all Orthodox Churches (2010)
With Volker Beck, MP, and Daniyel Demir, President of the Federal Council of the Arameans
With the German Federal Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schäule and the Franz Josef Jung, the representative to the churches of Mrs Merkel’s party in the German federal parliament and former Minister of Defence
With Manmohan Singh, Secretary General of the World Sikh Council – AR (2014)
Thomas Schirrmacher with the presidents of the German and Austrian Bishops Conference, Cardinal Marx and Cardinal Schönborn, Munich and Vienna, in the hall of the synod building of the Vatican (2015)
Rare picture: With the Patriarchs of Alexandria and of Antiochia in the same room (2015)
Minister of the Interior, Hungary (2015)
Ukrainian-Orthodox Patriarch
Romanian-Orthodox Patriarch
The Rum-Orthodox Patriarch Johannes X. Yazigi is head of all orthodox Christians with Arabic liturgy
With Rick Warren in the Vatican (2014)
Dr Adolfo Roitman, director of the Shrine of the Book, Jerusalem, after a private tour (2012)
With the Bavarian Minister of the Interior Joachim Hermann in Washington
Pope Benedict XVI.
With the presiding bishop of the Protestant State Church Nikolaus Schneider and the Catholic archbishop Ludwig Schick in the German parliament
On the podium of the International Berlin Gathering with Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth, former longterm President of the German parliament Deutscher Bundestag (2013)
The President of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1999-2001, Živko Radišić
Meeting the representatives of the Sikhs, the heads of the Sikh communities in three Asian countries (2011)
Pope Francis
Cardinal Turkson from Ghana is the head of the Pontifical Council "Iustitia et Pax" (2011)
A rare meeting with both Presidents of the Parlaments of the two Sudans, one a Muslim, one a Christian.
In discussion with the President of the Czech Supreme Court during a hearing for a new Czech family law in Prag
Discussing religious freedom and human rights with the (Muslim) President of Albania in his office.
With the ambassador of Mali, the only Muslim country with full democracy and religious freedom, in front of Münster castle, with the ambassadors on the pin on my lapel (17.11.2009)
Together with the ambassador of Iraq to Germany (17.11.2009)
With Prof. Dr. Abdullah Saeed from the Maledives, Quran scholar, professor of Islam at Melbourne University, spearhead for religious freedom in the Islamic world, Istanbul (April 2009)
With Günther Nooke, Human Rights Ambassador of the German federal government, and director of the 'Deutsche Welle' (DW, German federal radio), after my speech at the Global Media Forum (official press photo of DW. Photo: DW/K. Danetzki)
Günther Nooke has an impressive balance in his commitment for human rights and religous freedom since 2006 (April 2009)
In discussion with Asma Jahangir, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, at the State University of Bamberg (Bavaria) (20/2/2009)
With the Mufti of Istanbul and John Templeton, president of the Templeton Foundation, Istanbul (April 2009)
With the Mufti of Istanbul, the highest Muslim authority of Turkeys megacity
Second meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Churches, Istanbul (April 2009)
In discussion with Kelsang Gyaltsen, Ambassador of the Dalai Lama for the EU (15/3/2009). Photo: Markus Scherf
Dialogue with islamic Leaders
The WEA delegation with the Secretary General of the Muslim World League © WEA/Martin Warnecke
Egypt – Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Allam
Ahmadiyya – Kalif Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad
Albania – Grand Mufti Skënder Bruçaj
With Volker Beck, MP, and Daniyel Demir, President of the Federal Council of the Arameans
Algeria – With the President of the Algerian Muslims in Europe
Azerbaijan – Discussion with Caucasus Muslim Board
Azerbaijan – Rashad Aliyarli, vice-chair of the Caucasus Muslim Board
Australia/Maledives – Quran scholar Abdullah Saeed
Bahrain – Sheikh Maytham Al Salman
With “Grandfather” Haxhi Baba Edmond Brahimaj, Head of the Bektaschi Muslims
Bosnia – Grand Mufti Mustafa Efendi Cerić (bis 2012)
Gambia – Sharia Judge Sheikh Lewis
Indonesia – Din Syamsuddin, Chair, Indonesian Ulema Council Center, Jakarta
Iran – S. Abulhasan Navab, President, University of Religions, Qom, Iran © L'Osservatore Romano
Iran – Seyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi, President, Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, Teheran, Iran
Lebanon – High Sharia Judge, Saida
Lebanon – Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian
Montenegro – Grand Mufti of Montenegro (beside the President of Albania)
Pakistan – General Secretary Muhammad Hanif Jalandhari (Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia)
Pakistan – Muhammad Abd-ul-Khabìr Azad, Grand Imam of the Central Moisque in Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan – Maulana Uzair Albazi (Muhammad Musa Albazi University)
Pelestine – Grand Mufti Muhammad Ahmad Hussein
Serbia – Grand Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahić
Singapore – Mohamed Imram
Turkey – Grand Mufti of Istanbul Rahmi Yaran
Thomas Schirrmacher in conversation with the Mufti of Istanbul Prof. Dr. Rahmi Yaran
Turkey – Mufti of Istanbul Mustafa Çagrici (til 2011)
Tunesia – Abdelfattah Mourou, Ennahda, Vice-President of the Tunisian Parlament
Usbekistan – Mufti of Usbekistan
Favorite places
Standing beside the chair, from which John Calvin taught for decades.
No place is more beautiful than on a ship crossing over to Istanbul - here with a view of the Topkapi Palace at the tip of Europe (March 2009)
A Friedrichstraße street fair in 2007
There is no place I would rather find myself than in Istanbul in front of the Hagia Sophia at night (March 2009)
And yet other picture of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul at night (March 2009)
The little Dutch city of Kampen, which appears to practically only exist for its theological universities, is unforgettable
Athens
Grand Canyon from the helicopter (2015)
Copenhagen
Las Vegas, view from Hotel Bellagio
Monschau, nicest middle age village in the world
Paris, Sacre Ceur at nigth (2008)
Strassbourg, city of Martin Bucer
Timisoara, the central place with the Orthodox Cathedral during Christmas time
Tokyo Tower at night
Tokyo, view from hotel room (2010)
Rosetta Stone of 196 B. C. in three languages, British Museum, London
Between so many books, one needs to fell well: One half of the French National Library in Paris
Nice view from the courtyard to the Cathedral of Naumburg (2009)
The Berlin Cathedral, largest church in Berlin built by the Prussian kings (2014) © Stiftung für Grundwerte und Völkerverständigung / Markus Pletz Fotografie
Atomium in Brussels, constructed in 1958 (2006)
The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (2010)
Blue Grotto in Malta (2008)
The eternal construction site Singapore viewed from a boat in the harbour (2009)
Jinja in Uganda lies at the source oft he (white) Nile (2006)
My life
My first professorship in Philadelphia 1994–1998
My first professorship in Philadelphia 1994–1998
Memories: 1985 in China
Unforgettable: as a silent vigil, in 1994 I organized a gigantic initiative of burning candles one evening prior to the Bundestag vote on §218 on abortion
Sister Marianne and Sister Ludwine, both from the deaconess house in Lachen, led my brother Klaus and me to the Christian faith in the mid-1960s (the picture was taken during a visit in February 2009)
The first Rumanian students in my sociology of religion course at the public University of Oradea on December 2, 2006
After two dissertations about professors at the University of Bonn (Christlieb and Naumann), I finally received a doctorate at the age of 47 from the University of Bonn, with which I am so well acquainted
Friedrich Wilhelm Schirrmacher (1824–1904), my great grandfather, professor of history in Rostock
The yearly festival of our street proves a good neighbourship in the heart of Bonn
Gratulation by the representative of the UN High Commissioner to receiving the human rights price "Pro Fide Award" in Bangkok (2008)
My working place in the Sociological and Psychological Faculty of the University of the West, Timisoara
Two further books in Romanian, book signing in Timisoara
My first doctoral student receiving his doctorate in Geneva, Alfred Neufeld from Paraguay (front, with the document), myself directly behind him as a young professor (1995)
My 6 volumes on „Ethics“, first edition 1993, 6th edition 2011, plays a major part in my life
My Master course in sociology of religion in Timisoara (2014)
Degree for Hanniel Strebel 2010 at Martin Bucer Seminary Zurich Switzerland
Being a sign post to Jesus - a job for life
The IIRF fighting for religious freedom together with a Buddhist and a Muslim professor at the Global Media Forum, Bonn (2011)
Bonn, Jesuit Church, today bishops seat of the Old Catholic Church – I see it all day looking out of the window of my office
Our charity Giving Hands (Gebende Hände) sends relief goods all over the world
Visiting one of our major Giving-Hands-project in Mexico (2004)
With the three deans of Martin Bucer Seminary Germany in the grotto of the Dome of the Rock, where the altar of the First and Second Jewish Temple stood – with permission of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (2012)
Archaelogy in Jerusalem: Checking the rubble of the temple mount with Professor Gabriel Barkay, head of the Temple Mount Sifting Project
With students of our Brazilian branch of Martin Bucer Seminary in São Paulo (2015)
With the former and present directors and presidents of the World Reformed Fellowship in São Paulo (2015)
Visit in the university pediatric clinic of Vilnius, Lativa, a project of Giving Hands (appr. 1985) Vienna: Against persecution of Christians Rally against persecution of Christians in front of St Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna during a OSCE-conference (2010)
Rally against persecution of Christians in front of St Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna during a OSCE-conference (2010)
As the President of ISHR with our General Secretary from Uzbekistan, Marad Zakhidov
Treasurer Hafen, General Secretary Zakhidov/Usbekistan and President Schirrmacher, the executive board of the International Council of the International Society for Human Rights (2015)
Qumran Cave 11Q „Bat Cave“: discovered 1956, the Psalms and the Temple Scroll were found here
The International Leadership Team of WEA at the inauguration of Bischop Ef Tendero, Honduras (2015)
Our charity Giving Hands in relief work in Ethiopia
Our charity Giving Hands in relief work in Afghanistan
Our charity Giving Hands in relief work in Nepal
Our charity Giving Hands in relief work in South Sudan
Women in prison in Azerbaijan produced this impressive tapestry with the symbol of justice for me as President of ISHR. The Chair of ISHR Azerbaijan presents it me (2015)
A human rights seminar of the ISHR for young people from Central Asia (2015)
Ecumenical Delegation to the Pope before entering the Vatican (2013)
As a student the father of my mother lived in this tower in Schwelm, where I was born
Lectures
Guest lecture by Thomas Schirrmacher at Morling College in Sydney © BQ/Thomas Schirrmacher
Guest lecture by Thomas Schirrmacher at St. Paul’s Theological College in Kuala Lumpur © BQ/Thomas Schirrmacher
Thomas Schirrmacher during his guest lecture at PTS College & Advanced Studies, Manila © BQ/Thomas Schirrmacher
Thomas Schirrmacher at his inaugural lecture on the founding of the IHRF © BQ/Warnecke
Thomas Schirrmacher during his lecture at the Syrian Institute of the University of Salzburg © BQ/Warnecke
Thomas Schirrmacher during his lecture in Hanoi © IIRF/Martin Warnecke
Thomas Schirrmacher during his ISHR lecture at the University of Freiburg (with audience) © BQ/Warnecke
A lecture on National Socialism at the University of Mannheim on October 16, 2008
In conversation after one of my lectures at a World Council of Churches meeting in Geneva on October 20, 2008
Lecture held at the meeting of the state board of the Protestant Task Force of the CDU party in NorthRhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf on March 25, 2009; in the middle is the chairman, Volkmar Klein, member of the federal parlament
Lecture at Deutsche Welle’s Global Media Forum on June 3, 2009, with Günter Knabe as Moderator
Lecture on the relationship between the military and civil society
A hearing in the council chambers of the OSCE at the Hofburg in Vienna on March 4, 2009
Guest lecture on religious freedom in the main building of the State University of Freiburg in South Germany together with the International Society for Human Rights
As expert witness at the human rights committee of the Deutscher Bundestag (2010)
Sermon on the right to life with represanataives of all Romanian churches in the cathedral in Timisoara, Romania (2012)
Lecture against human trafficking in the church of the sisters of Mary in Darmstadt (2013)
Guest lecture on human trafficking in the senate's chamber of the central building of the University of Cologne
Guest lecture on human trafficking in the senate's chamber of the central building of the University of Cologne Law professors
Testifying in the European Parlament on the invitation of the Indonesian government
Guest lecture in the Main Hall of the University of Erfurt on "Fundamentalism Today" (2013)
Guest lecture on "Religious freedom" in the Senat’s Hall to the University of Cologne (2011)
Guest lecture at the Lutheran Ecumenical Institute at the University of Strassbourg/France (August 2014)
Lecture against human trafficking in Hamburg’s landmark, the central church called “Michel”
Speaking to the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan/Korea (2013)
Lecturing in the Pontificial Academy for Social Sciences in the Vatican Gardens (2013)
Sermon in the Presbyterian Church in Seoul-Korea in front of an organ built by Klais, a world company from my home town Bonn
VUSH is the Evangelical Alliance in Albania (2014)
Discussion with Muslim leaders from Indonesia and Tunisia in Brussels
Preaching in Seoul (2012)
Panel on martyrdom at SantEgidio’s World Conference on Peace in Tirana, Albania (2015)
Commemorative speech at the 25th jubilee of the Christian School in Detmold
Congress on persecution of Christians in Schwaebisch-Gmuend (2011)
Large plenary against human trafficking at the “Kirchentag” in Hamburg, the largest Protestant gathering in Germany (2013)
Pleanary speech at the Global Christian Forum, Manado, Indonesie (2011)
Guest lecture on Pope John Paul II. in the Pontificial University Santa Cruce (2014)
Being interview against persecution at the “Kirchentag” in Stuttgart, the largest Protestant gathering in Germany (2015)
Guest lecture at New York University in Tirana, Albania, on Hitler’s religion (2014)
Speaking at a youth rally of 7000 people at ICF Zurich (2015)
The German Chancellor Mrs Angela Merkel thanks me for my speech in the Berlin party headquarter oft he CDU (2010)
Lecture on Religious Extremism in the Middle East, Summit by Federal and State Security Institutions, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Wildbad Kreuth (2015)
Plenary speech on persecution of Christians at a conference in Schoenblick, Schwaebisch-Gmuend (2015)
Guest lecture in Hyderabad, India, 1986
On the go
Looking from Tiraspol, Transnistria to Moldova on the other side of the river Dniester. “Trans” the river is the Russian, Ukrainian, English, German version, the Transnistria people themselves do not see there country “trans”, on the other side of the Dniester, but this side of Dniester, thus “Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic”.
The Arch of Constantine at the Via Triumphales in Rom. 315 consecrated, 21 m high and 25.7 m wide.
The Arch of Constantine at the Via Triumphales in Rom. 315 consecrated, 21 m high and 25.7 m wide.
The keystone, i.e. the vaulted centerpiece of the middle, fifth arch of the narthex (nave) of the third huge abbey church of Cluny, France, completed in 1230, called “Cluny III”, long the largest church in the world. It shows the pasha lamb with the cross with a Latin inscription surrounding the central figure, translated: “Here I am formed like a small lamb, in heaven I am great”. The original is now in the Ochier Museum, Jean de Bourbon Palace, Saône-et-Loire in Cluny.
The keystone, i.e. the vaulted centerpiece of the middle, fifth arch of the narthex (nave) of the third huge abbey church of Cluny, France, completed in 1230, called “Cluny III”, long the largest church in the world. It shows the pasha lamb with the cross with a Latin inscription surrounding the central figure, translated: “Here I am formed like a small lamb, in heaven I am great”. The original is now in the Ochier Museum, Jean de Bourbon Palace, Saône-et-Loire in Cluny.
Speech to 40.000 participants of the Ahmadiyya Jalsa Salana in Karlsruhe, the yearly meeting of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Germany, before the lecture of their spiritual leader, Kalif Mirza Masrur Ahmad
Chancellor Merkel speaking on religious freedom (my head from the back) 2017
Not really allowed: Photo in the British House of Commons
Together with Presidents of sections of the ISHR in several GUS states
UNHCHR press conference in Beirut
Speaking at a youth rally of 7000 people at ICF Zurich (2015)
Congratulating the late President of Germany Richard von Weizsäcker (2012)
In the garden of the Vatican (2013)
Plenary speech at the Vatican Synod (2015)
Welcome by Lebanese scouts with Olav Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
Commemorating the martyrs of 1915 together with the Syrian-Orthodox Patriarch at the memorial in Cloister Warburg (2015)
Summit between WCC and WEA in Seoul, Korea (2012)
This organ in Seoul, Korea, has been built by the Klais-company from my home town Bonn, here after a lecture to Korean professors of theology (2012)
The Code of Hammurabi, 18th century BC, in the Louvre, Paris (2009)
With the Minister of Religions of Indonesia (right) visiting the Governor of Manado
Remembering the holocaust in Jad Vashem in Jerusalem (2012)
The WEA is greeting the First Lady of Honduras
Launch of the ‘Global Charter of Conscience’ in Dublin, Ireland, far right on the table: Os Guiness (2013)
Tel-Dan-Stele of the 8th/9th century with inscription “House of David” discovered 1993 in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem (2012)
Speech given at the Religious Freedom Concert by the Romanian Parliament in Bucharest’s Opera House, here shaking hands with the President (2013)
With oriental bishops on the VIP tribune of the German Federal Parliament during the debate on remembering of the Armenian genocide 100 years ago (2015)
Panel discussion in Berlin celebrating 25 years of the Alevite-Muslim association
With several Patriarchs of the Middle East, Orthodox, Oriental, Catholic, in Byblos (2015)
Talking to Christian refugees in the Middle East (2013)
Talking to Christian refugees in the Middle East (2013)
In the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem with official permission of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
The German State TV filming me in Lebanon in 2013
Panel discussion on religious freedom, CDU/CSU-fraction in the German Parliament, from left to right: Tanja Samrotzki, Archbishop Bashar Warda, Iraq, Archbishop Ludwig Schick, Bishop Ulrich Fischer, Prof. Heiner Bielefeldt, Prof. Thomas Schirrmacher, source: https://www.cducsu.de/veranstaltungen/menschenrecht-religionsfreiheit-wie-schuetzen-wir-verfolgte-christen-teil-1/galerie/bildergalerie-zum-c-kongress
Opening the World Mission Conference in Tokio 2010 with 3000 delegates attending
With delegates of the Copts of six European countries in the EU parliament - right of the flag the chair of the human rights committee
Without words
Thomas Schirrmacher in conversation with Monsignor Michael W. Banach, Permanent Vatican Representative at The Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe; photo taken at an OSCE conference in Vienna in March 2009
A break in the negotiations in the OSCE council chambers at the Hofburg in Vienna on March 4, 2009
Funny
Prophecy
Hilarious - with the Prime Minister of NRW Hendrik Wüst in Aachen in January 2024
All stare at the sleeping Thomas – on the far left Cardinal Turkson. Marseille in September 2021.
Where is my food? – With the board of the EA in Giuatemala 2023.
During my recent visit in Ethiopia I kissed the Ethiopian flag in the central government building.
Best protection possible: Under the blessing of African bishops, pastors and friends at the Global Christian Forum in Bogota, Columbia. In the middle the new secretary of the GCF, Casely Essamuah from Ghana, with his wife.
Christians that think there are more holy than others should move to the “Oberes Gerechtigkeitsgässchen” (Upper Justice Alleys) at Bern Cathedral
A welcome present in Pakistan looks like a very long white beard (2017)
Laughing with Patriarch Gregory III Laham (2017)
My nose in front of a church in Bern by night
Hurry, hurry: myself, Bishop Efraim Tendero and Kurt Cardinal Koch running in Lund
Hugging the UN flag at the end of a session of the UNHCHR in Beirut
Poor professor: Martin Bucer Seminary Brasil: Do the students really pay attention?
Commercial break: Calvin Klein between me and the Commander-in-Chief of Lebanon
Strange discussion: In the middle the President of Timor-Leste (2007-2012), José Ramos-Horta
(from right to left) Doug Birdsall, Sam Logan, Os Guiness
Fall from the “twin peaks”, the highest point of San Francisco (2013)
Photo of the official photographer of the Federal Minister for Human Development minutes before a hearing on religious freedom (2014)
Street name in Lemgo, Germany (2015)
The Claw! Lecture, Summit by Federal and State Security Institutions, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Wildbad Kreuth (2015)
With faculty and students of Martin Bucer Seminary in Caesarea Maritima in Israel – on top of me our archaeologist Alexander Schick
Laughing with the presidents of the German and Austrian Bishops Conference, Cardinal Marx and Cardinal Schönborn, Munich and Vienna, in the hall of the synod building of the Vatican (2015)
This is the result of the wrong perspective of a photographer: With the ambassador of Italy in Albania in the Italian Embassy
Laughing with the Syrian-Orthodox Archbishop of the Netherlands
As James Bond on the Swiss mountain Schilthorn, where the film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was filmed Thomas James Bond (2013)
Thomas in a sickle shape during a speech given at the Religious Freedom Concert by the Romanian Parliament in Bukarest’s Opera House (2013)
Always busy, here in São Paulo Airport (2011)
Cardinal Müller laughs in the Vatican after a joke by Rick Warren
Niagara Falls (2014)
My family in Washington (2007)
Without words (2013)
This photo has been taken at Cologne Zoo and greets at the arrival at Cologne/Bonn Airport
During an archaeological excursion in Tel Dan, Israel, I show our students, where the golden calf was standing
The small boys and girls in us: The Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance meeting in our office in Bonn (2011)
The police chief of the State of Hamburg presents me the cap of a police captain after a lecture on human trafficking to his officers (2013)
Wrong way around: With Dean Carsten Friedrich and students in front of the lecture hall of Martin Bucer Seminary in Chemnitz (2009)
I love all: A seminar in Chemnitz with students from Martin Bucer Seminary (2007)
Help needed! My deputy repairing my shirt at the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan, Korea (2013)
Potrait Montmatre Paris (2009)
"Without words"
Caricature Montmatre Paris (2009)
After a busy day of organizing sleeping at the National Prayer Breakfast in the German Parlament (June 2015)
(from left) Volker Lauder, majority leader in the German Federal Parlament, Erika Steinbach, than chair of the human rights committee of the same, Thomas Schirrmacher, Prelate Karl Jüsten
The Pope allowed a selfie and made a funny gesture for it
Gentle Dog – Beware of Owner
The perfect photo - with the Syrian-Orthodox Archbishop of Germany in Warburg 2012
After a guest lecture in Austria, the Austrian thank me with this T-shirt. No hau is how you pronounce "know how", but in German means "You will not be beaten" (2010)
Seen in the restaurant on the table mountain of Cape Town (2010)
No German festival, but the couloirs of the flag of the Indonesian province Westsumatra
Loriot: During the large Loriot exhibition. Loriot was the best known German cabaretist and always did sit on this seat in the same position.
In the Gouverneur's palace in Jakarta I was ask to sit down in the official chair
This how the famous Japanese caricaturist Tomokazu Tabata sees me. He is winner of several prices of the International Society for Caricature Artists (www.caricature.org)
27 Martin Bucer theologians from 5 countries chuckling at a dean’s meeting on March 12, 2009
The marathon meetings of the General Assembly of the World Evangelical Alliance in Pattaya, Thailand takes its toll (October 29, 2008)
Taken in front of our hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, USA outside of Washington, D.C. (September 2007)
Without female lecturers and coworkers, the Martin Bucer Seminary could not operate (photo taken at the faculty meeting on March 12, 2009)
Haircutter sought: A pony in the Duisburg Zoo, 2006
The photo with my book ‘Modern Fathers’ was not contrived; rather, it is a true snapshot!
Fun about myself
Hilarious - with the Prime Minister of NRW Hendrik Wüst in Aachen in January 2024
All stare at the sleeping Thomas – on the far left Cardinal Turkson. Marseille in September 2021.
Where is my food? – With the board of the EA in Giuatemala 2023.
It’s hard to line up for a photo! – Rabatt, Morokko in June 2023
How should this become a group photo? - With the President of the All-African Parliament in Rabatt, Morocco, June 2023
Thomas Schirrmacher with the flag of Ukraine © Martin Warnecke
PRO makes fun of me on April Fools’ Day 2021: Thomas Schirrmacher receives his own RTL show: In the future, the theologian Thomas Schirrmacher will have his own program on the TV station RTL. The popular sociologist of religion, who is friends with Pope Francis, will appear weekly on the program “Alarm for Schirrmacher” from May onwards. In addition, prominent guests will appear in “Alarm for Schirrmacher”. For the episodes that are planned in Rome, Pope Franziskus has been asked by RTL as an accompanying person, who will comment on the program from a side seat and pass the balls to show master Schirrmacher. The broadcaster has not yet revealed any details.
During my recent visit in Ethiopia I kissed the Ethiopian flag in the central government building.
Best protection possible: Under the blessing of African bishops, pastors and friends at the Global Christian Forum in Bogota, Columbia. In the middle the new secretary of the GCF, Casely Essamuah from Ghana, with his wife.
Laughing with Patriarch Gregory III Laham (2017)
My nose in front of a church in Bern by night
Hurry, hurry: myself, Bishop Efraim Tendero and Kurt Cardinal Koch running in Lund
Hugging the UN flag at the end of a session of the UNHCHR in Beirut
Commercial break: Calvin Klein between me and the Commander-in-Chief of Lebanon
Strange discussion: In the middle the President of Timor-Leste (2007-2012), José Ramos-Horta
Fall from the “twin peaks”, the highest point of San Francisco (2013)
Photo of the official photographer of the Federal Minister for Human Development minutes before a hearing on religious freedom (2014)
The Claw! Lecture, Summit by Federal and State Security Institutions, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Wildbad Kreuth (2015)
With faculty and students of Martin Bucer Seminary in Caesarea Maritima in Israel – on top of me our archaeologist Alexander Schick
Laughing with the presidents of the German and Austrian Bishops Conference, Cardinal Marx and Cardinal Schönborn, Munich and Vienna, in the hall of the synod building of the Vatican (2015)
Laughing with the Syrian-Orthodox Archbishop of the Netherlands
As James Bond on the Swiss mountain Schilthorn, where the film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was filmed Thomas James Bond (2013)
Thomas in a sickle shape during a speech given at the Religious Freedom Concert by the Romanian Parliament in Bukarest’s Opera House (2013)
Always busy, here in São Paulo Airport (2011)
Niagara Falls (2014)
My family in Washington (2007)
Without words (2013)
During an archaeological excursion in Tel Dan, Israel, I show our students, where the golden calf was standing
The police chief of the State of Hamburg presents me the cap of a police captain after a lecture on human trafficking to his officers (2013)
Wrong way around: With Dean Carsten Friedrich and students in front of the lecture hall of Martin Bucer Seminary in Chemnitz (2009)
I love all: A seminar in Chemnitz with students from Martin Bucer Seminary (2007)
Help needed! My deputy repairing my shirt at the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan, Korea (2013)
Silhouette, 1991
Potrait Montmatre Paris (2009)
"Without words"
Caricature Montmatre Paris (2009)
Snapshots
Vending machine for coffee, Tiraspol, Transnistria
Big Ben
Coffee from the largest coffee pot, Freiburg Central Station
A kind of selfie a decade ago on Tokyo tower
Insider Tip: The German White House as seen from room 1 in the Marriott Hotel
William Franklin Graham III, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and of Samaritan’s Purse
Godfrey Yogarajah from Sri Lanka, very old friend and co-leader of WEA with me, here waiting in the office of the foreign minister of Brazil
Pope Francis with what perhaps is his most typical gesture
With Generals from four countries and three continents, 2016, Indonesian Embassy in Brussels
The “Federal Washing Machine” (Berlin vernacular), which means the Federal Chancellery in Berlin (2015) Foto: Markus Pletz Fotografie // Stiftung für Grundwerte und Völkerverständigung | Büro Berlin:Pariser Platz 6a | 10117 Berlin. Alle Nutzungsrechte © Stiftung für Grundwerte und Völkerverständigung / Markus Pletz Fotografie
Guest lecture at the Aula Benedict in the Pontifical University Urbaniana with a photo with Benedict on the screen (2015)
Strassbourg, European Parliament
Part of the faculty of Martin Bucer Seminary 2010 in Bonn
Sherlock Holmes in London’s underground station “Baker Street”
Self service: The rabbit of my son (2015)
Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie (2007)
This must be love! Old word porcupine couple in Gelsenkirchen Zoo (2011)
Seal couple in love Duisburg Zoo (2014)
Duisburg Zoo (2006)
Asiatic black bear in the Zoo in Muenster/Germany (2006)
One of my nieces
A pair of swallows fly up and down in a church service on the North Sea islands Batrum (2014)
Castle in Usbekistan with heart windows
Living with the daily threat: The military takes over the role of the police in Beirut
The Greek-Orthodox Metropolit and the Greek Ambassador studying business cards
A baby anteater on the back of an anteater: the most beautiful animal photo taken by my daughter, with whom I visited many zoos, pictured here at the Duisburg Zoo in 2006
For media use
Press photo Schirrmacher in conversation with patriarchs from Ethiopia
Press photo Aachen 2020
Press photo Baku 2019
Press photo Baku 2019
Free for press: Hearing in Bonn ISHR (Foto: IGFM)
Free for press: Lecture Human Rights Bonn ISHR (Foto: IGFM)
Free fo press: Lecture religious freedom (SPRING / Nico Franz, CC-BY-SA)
Free for press: Lecture religious freedom Frankfurt (Foto: IIRF)
Free for press: Lecture human trafficking Darmstadt (Foto: Joachim S. Müller)
Free for press
Free for press
Free for press
In Dublin, Ireland
In Brussels
In Honduras (2015)