From June 12 to 14, 2025, colleagues gathered in Bern and Solothurn for an international conference on “Distance Communication in the Early Modern Period: Media, Actors, and Practices across Space and Time.” Focusing on dynamics of communication across distance, participants explored letters, diplomats, material objects, prayers, and prints as so many media of exchange within contexts as varied as the spheres of religion, politics, and imperial governance in the early modern period.
A particular highlight was the keynote lecture by Christian Windler, titled “Catholic Missionaries and Protestant Networks of Distance Communication in Asia.” Stefan Rebenich offered a warm and collegial introduction to his farewell lecture.
We extend our sincere thanks to Christian Windler—for inspiring study trips (preferably to the Mediterranean), for his unwavering support of early-career researchers, and for his many years of innovative research. He will be greatly missed at the Institute.