An huge church convention which had attracted more than 130,000 participants from across Germany and beyond has given a crucial impetus to the unity movement in the country.
Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths should work together to show God's compassion in a world of destitution and injustice, an Islamic and a Christian scholar have declared.
How Christians in rich societies respond to the poor in their midst was one significant concern addressed by participants at the German Kirchentag in Munich from 12-16 May.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told Germany's biggest Protestant gathering that the results of her meeting with leaders from the G8 industrial nations marked a "step forward" - though much remains to be done.
