Emerging from our ghettoes” “

Apart from ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, a lively confrontation and debate is going on in Europe between believers and non believers. There are many experiences in this field; we report below the views of Vincenzo Paglia, bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia, and of Mario Soares , a self-declared atheist, President of Portugal and chairman of the Foundation named after him for the study of political science and contemporary history. Msgr. Paglia, what are the origins of the dialogue between believers and non believers? “The first attempts at dialogue date back to the Fifties, when Christians and Marxists met together to seek to bridge the gulf that divided the world into two. But it was more a confrontation between two ‘religions’ than between two cultures. Vatican Council II and Paul VI, apart from dialogue with the Christian confessions and the other great world religions, opened up the Church to a meeting with modernity, and found an attentive response in the lay world. It was a meeting between two cultural traditions that shared the same Jewish-Christian roots”. In particular, what are the things that can bring believers and non believers together? “The dialogue represented an opportunity to bring laypeople and believers together in the common pursuit of peace, justice and the defence of human rights. Starting out from the inspiring lesson of John XXIII – ‘seek first of all what it is that unites and discard what it is that divides’ – a method is sought of entering into a kind of relationship that does not suppress differences but that prevents conflict”. In what European countries is this debate most lively? “The dialogue has had many positive results especially in France (where it is presented as the choice between materialism and spirituality) and in Italy, where the debate risks getting entangled in politics: we need on the contrary to emphasize the spiritual aspect – finding ourselves together before the mystery of life – and focus our attention on the ethical and existential dimension”. In what perspective? “Both believers and laypeople must tackle in depth the problems of globalization and the great challenges of human rights and the protection of the environment, for example. If believers and laypeople are tempted to remain enclosed in their own ghettoes, now they are being asked to emerge from them to combat superstition and idolatry, the deceits of syncretism and the devastation of fundamentalism”. Does ecumenical dialogue also have a role to play? “Ecumenism is not just one sector of the Church’s pastoral ministry, but must involve all its aspects. What is now needed is a knowledge of the other confessions and raising the awareness of public opinion about the great common heritage that unites us; unfortunately in some cities a climate hostile to this is felt. We need to foster relations with our sister Churches: apart from meetings and prayers in common, a bishop’s concerns must also include that of welcoming all Christians and giving them places where they can worship”. President Soares, in what fields do you dialogue with Catholics? “In Portugal the majority of the population is Catholic, with a strong presence of the Franciscan Third Order. Personally I am engaged in various initiatives, for example in the peace process in Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony. Both the development of culture and education in peace promoted by many Catholic groups are indispensable today. Even though I’m not a believer, I support this work because peace is a supreme value, like justice and development”. How can we continue this process together? “By pursuing our collaboration in the search for social justice and development, from Angola (devastated by a civil war that has lasted for three decades) to East Timor, for example. Paul VI said that development ‘is the name of freedom in our century’. At the present time, immersed in globalization – which accentuates social differences and has many controversial aspects – wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, while poverty is widespread even in the rich countries: we need to join together to defeat it”. Laura Badaracchi