From 13 to 15 June 2025, around 700 scholars discussed the topic of complexity with guests from academia, the church, business, politics, culture and the media. The Cusanuswerk's annual conference was organised in cooperation with the KAAD.
KAAD President P. Hans Langendörfer SJ took part in the opening evening of the annual conference. He not only engaged in discussions with the scholars from the Global South, but also with the management of our "sister organisation" and representatives of other organisations, bishops, academics and scientists in attendance.
Among the participants were twenty KAAD scholarship holders from all regional departments – from 13 countries in total: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, India, Argentina, Colombia, the Palestinian territories, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine and Slovakia.
They were accompanied by Dr Mirjam Rossa and Dr Marko Kuhn from the KAAD office. Both are alumni of the Cusanuswerk ("Altcusaner"). Mirjam Rossa worked at the Cusanuswerk for over ten years until February of this year and was therefore particularly well placed to introduce the KAAD scholarship holders to the procedures of the annual conference.
In his opening speech, Prof Dr Georg Braungart, Director of the Cusanuswerk, referred to the growing complexity of everyday life, which is perceived differently depending on the professional, spiritual or personal background. The aim of the interdisciplinary conference was to develop productive ways of dealing with this complexity - especially in an environment such as the Cusanuswerk, which stands for openness, dialogue and diversity.
In his keynote speech,Dr Marco Wehr, physicist and philosopher, described the world as a historically unique "tangled ball of complexity". He combined this diagnosis with concrete considerations on how to deal with the challenges of growing complexity.
Dr Thomas Scheidtweiler, Secretary General of the Cusanuswerk, emphasised the relevance of complex experiences of reality, particularly in the context of promoting gifted students. Beauty, vitality as well as the crises of the present are an expression of a multi-layered world that does not allow for simple answers. It takes courage to endure ambiguity and to face it intellectually and spiritually – as a prerequisite for responsible action in a globally networked society.
As is the case every year, the theme of the conference was differentiated in various forums that focussed on individual aspects. These were enriched by presentations from experts from universities, research institutions and organisations who had come to Baarlo for this purpose.
This made the topic of complexity tangible, for example through forums on the theory of complex systems, on neuropsychological issues, on art and culture as a form of coping in a networked world or on the relationship between the divine persons in Christian Trinity theology.
KAAD scholar Judy Kaaria from Kenya gave a lecture in a forum on complex decision-making and on attempts to unbundle and simplify global economic cycles. She had 'brought along' Prof Dr Aoife Hanley from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Aoife Hanley, who is an expert in the complex interrelationships of global supply chains, gave an overview of this topic and an insight into current research findings, while Judy Kaaria focussed in particular on the consequences for the economy of her home country, Kenya.
Prof Dr Markus Gabriel, holder of the Chair of Epistemology and Modern Philosophy at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, spoke in his lecture about social complexity as a prerequisite for moral progress. He said it was necessary to rethink common questions and respond to them with multi-layered, responsible answers.
During a Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop Dr Udo Markus Bentz addressed the social tendency towards simplification. The widespread longing for reduction - whether in architecture, everyday life or private lifestyle – is an expression of a growing tiredness of complexity, he said. Christians are therefore particularly called upon to face reality in all its ambivalence with an open mind instead of retreating into apparent clarity. It is precisely by listening to each other and discerning together that a path of responsible truth-seeking opens up.
At the annual conference, the KAAD scholars contributed the perspectives of the Global South to the debate on the topic – from the perspective of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe. They participated intensively in the substantive discussions and at the same time used the time together for personal encounters, strengthening their faith in prayers and church services and, last but not least, for celebrating together with their colleagues from the Cusanuswerk.
