Home · Faith · Sep 12 archive

Between Memory and History: When September 11 Meets the Jewish New Year

Confirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Archbishop Stefan Hesse of Hamburg draws parallels between the Berlin Wall and the U.S.-Mexico border, emphasizing the importance of human dignity and compassion.

Juggling on the Berlin Wall 1a
Photo: Juggling_on_the_Berlin_Wall_1.jpg : Yann Forget derivative work: Durova ( talk ) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Archbishop Stefan Hesse of Hamburg, during a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border, drew a poignant comparison between the towering fortifications and razor wire that divide Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, with the Berlin Wall. 'Certainly, it is the state’s responsibility to regulate migration,' Hesse said, 'but during my trip to Mexico and the U.S., I also witnessed what happens when migration is treated exclusively as a security issue: a fundamental sense of humanity ends up being lost.

In a time marked by profound changes, the Church is called to serve the human person, listening to and welcoming the deepest questions of their heart and the longings that dwell within them, pointing to Christ as 'the key, the focal point and the goal of … all human history,' Hesse added, echoing the words of Saint John XXIII.

Meanwhile, the 2026 VMAs, set for September 27th and airing on CBS and MTV, will honor Nirvana as its 2026 Video Vanguard recipient, marking a significant moment in the history of the awards show. The band, which hasn’t been active in over 30 years, will be remembered for their iconic performance at the 1992 VMAs, where they teased the opening chords of 'Rape Me' before pivoting into 'Lithium.

Among the notable events marking 25 years since the 9/11 attacks, The Independent described the events as 'the biggest, most murderous and most spectacular terrorist onslaught in history.' This week, a peaceful march organized by the African National Congress (ANC) in Ciskei ended in tragedy, with government troops unleashing a barrage of gunfire.

What's confirmed

What's still developing

Sources