It is with great sadness that the University of Rzeszów receives the news of the death of Prof. Rita Süssmuth, an outstanding German scientist, politician, and stateswoman, who died on February 1, 2026, at the age of 88.

Prof. Rita Süssmuth was born on February 17, 1937, in Wuppertal. In her work, she combined high scientific standards with responsibility for social issues. From 1985 to 1988, she served as Federal Minister for Youth, Family, Women, and Health in the government of the Federal Republic of Germany, and then, from 1988 to 1998, she was President of the Bundestag, one of the most important roles in German political life during the period of European transformation at the end of the 20th century.

The University of Rzeszów had the honor of awarding Prof. Süssmuth an honorary doctorate in 2018,

recognizing her scientific achievements and contribution to the development of Polish-German understanding.

Her death is a huge loss for the scientific and political communities and for all those who valued dialogue, honest public debate, and constructive international relations. She will be remembered as a figure who significantly enriched contemporary European history and Polish-German relations.