Faith festival come & see”: 1,000 believers celebrate in Cologne!

Faith festival come & see”: 1,000 believers celebrate in Cologne!

The faith festival “come & see” in Cologne attracted around 1,000 participants this year. According to the Archdiocese of Cologne, the festival was a complete success and took place on the occasion of Corpus Christi Day, offering numerous events over four days. One of the highlights was the closing service on Sunday, which was led by Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Woelki was moved by the numerous testimonies of the participants who reported deep faith. They worshiped together in a large hall that was filled to capacity. 

This festival not only served as a platform to celebrate the Catholic faith, but also as a prelude to preparation for an important anniversary: ​​2029 will mark 750 years since the first Corpus Christi procession in Cologne. This event could help revive interest and participation in religious festivals and recall the tradition.

Diverse program for young and old

The extensive program included lectures, workshops and church services that appealed to a broad public. During the events, Woelki emphasized the profound importance of the experience of faith in everyday life and encouraged believers to actively live their faith. In times of declining membership numbers, as can also be observed in the Cologne Corpus Christi liturgy, such a festival offers an excellent opportunity to celebrate and deepen one's faith.

The traditional procession through Cologne's old town took place under the best weather conditions this year, which also made the cardinal feel relieved. Over a thousand believers, including many families with their communion children, took part in the event. Every year the procession attracts not only believers from the archdiocese, but also tourists and passers-by who join in the common celebration. The old town becomes a colorful scene of faith.

A sign of hope

On this occasion, the Cardinal sang the well-known “Te Deum” and administered the Eucharistic blessing to all those present. Cologne Cathedral, which is as full on this day as it is at Christmas or Easter, became an impressive backdrop to the festival of faith. Such events show that despite the challenges facing the church, faith is still held high and unites people from all generations.

The next faith festival will take place from June 4th to 7th, 2026 and promises to be another highlight for the believing community in Cologne and beyond. The organizers are confident that this will further strengthen the tradition of the festival of faith and inspire new members. In a world often characterized by doubt, such events show that faith is still strong and offers hope.

For more information about this faith festival you can read the article on Cathedral radio, Archdiocese of Cologne and Catholic.at read up.