What idea of Europe?” “

The promotion of a meeting between the leaders of the Christian Churches in Europe and the representatives of the political world and the convocation (not before 2006) of a third European Ecumenical Assembly: on these two proposed meetings the Christian Churches focused their attention at the meeting of the joint KEK-CEEC Committee held at Ottmaring (Germany) from 24 to 27 January 2002, under the joint chairmanship of Metropolitan Jérémie Caligiorgis (KEK) and Msgr. Amedée Grab (CCEE). The contribution that the churches may make to the idea and reality of Europe – says the press release issued after the meeting – is in fact one of the challenges of the Charta Oecumenica “. The dialogue between the churches and the political institutions – the communiqué continues – must also be promoted in the name of all the European regions, since “even those who live outside the enlarged European Union are profoundly affected by the Union’s decisions”. Another aspect of cooperation between the two church organizations is the convening of a third European Ecumenical Assembly, to give “continuity to the ecumenical impetus” given by the previous assemblies in Basel and Graz. At Ottmaring, KEK and CCEE expressed “satisfaction” for the wide interest aroused by the Charta Oecumenica in many parts of Europe and decided to publish, in the near future, a volume on the European ecumenical meeting in Strasbourg. Agreement was also reached on the holding of a consultation in the autumn of 2002 to explore how the Charta Oecumenica has been received in the various countries. Lastly, in the light of the “tragic events of 11 September and their consequences”, the joint committee stressed “the importance of interreligious dialogue” and welcomed a series of proposals aimed at “continuing, developing and intensifying dialogue and contacts between Christians and Moslems”. We interviewed Msgr. Aldo Giordano , secretary general of the CCEE. Why hold a meeting with the representatives of the European political world, and why hold another European Ecumenical Assembly? “For the time being these are two hypotheses that emerged during our discussions in response to two needs: the proposed meeting with the representatives of the political world is aimed at providing a forum for sharing our ideas about our respective visions of Europe. As far as the Ecumenical Assembly is concerned, which in any case will not be held before 2006, no theme has yet been defined. The idea was born from the need to bear a common Christian witness in Europe. The European Churches in fact want to meet together to reflect on how the cornerstones of Christianity – the themes of faith, hope and charity – may illuminate the basic values of European society and culture”. Do the two proposed meetings wish to be a response to the Pope’s accusation that religions are being sidelined from the process of European construction? “Of course, especially the meeting with the political representatives – even though we don’t want to give the impression that the Churches are trying to exert pressure. We are above any kind of lobbying. We only wish to have an exchange with them about our respective visions of Europe and its future”. How was the Ecumenical Charter received? “We are surprised by the presence of the Charta Oecumenica in the life of the Churches. With some differences between the nations, the Charter has been placed at the service of a new phase of ecumenism, the phase in which the dialogue between the Churches is entering into the daily life of the communities. The Charter also helps the Churches to assume responsibility for the whole of Europe and for the whole of ecumenism, and not just for what is happening in one’s own country. The events of 11 September and their aftermath were ever present at the meeting in Ottmaring: we asked ourselves what is meant today by living Christianity in the light of these tragic events. They confirmed to us that only the Gospel is capable of establishing a real alternative to the globalization of terrorism and violence. That means that Christians have a heavy responsibility. And it underlines how important interreligious dialogue is, in particular with Moslems and especially with those, within Islam, who are seeking a European way of being Moslem”. Maria Chiara Biagioni