I knew Rita Süssmuth for many years, most recently in her role as President of the Consortium of the Turkish-German University. Yet titles never captured who she truly was.
Rita Süssmuth was an extraordinary human being—guided not by power, but by purpose; not by prestige, but by responsibility toward the future. She carried a deep belief in people, especially in the young, and in their ability to shape a more humane world when given trust, education, and the opportunity to encounter one another beyond borders.
For Türkiye, she was far more than a respected German stateswoman. She was a bridge—patiently built, carefully maintained, and walked in both directions.
She understood something rare in international relations: that lasting bonds between countries are not sustained by agreements alone, but by shared institutions, shared learning, and mutual respect. Like few others from abroad, she grasped Türkiye’s depth, its aspirations, and its role in the future of Europe—not as a peripheral actor, but as a partner of consequence.
She was the essential soul behind the foundation of the Turkish-German University. From its earliest, most fragile beginnings until the very end, she stood for its idea, defended its necessity, and shaped its spirit. The university is more than an institution influenced by her vision; it carries her ethos within it.
What made Rita Süssmuth exceptional was that, in all her roles, humanity came first. She combined intellectual clarity with moral courage, strategic vision with warmth, and authority with kindness. She did not seek admiration, yet she inspired it naturally.
With her passing, we have not only lost a founding figure and a builder of bridges between nations. We have lost a friend—and a rare human being who reminded us that the future is not shaped by dominance, but by dignity.
Her legacy will endure in institutions, in students, in dialogue, and in the quiet confidence that understanding between cultures is both possible and worth nurturing.
Bon voyage, dear Rita.
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