A common heritage” “

“This Marian vigil has a strong symbolic value. For it is also to us, dear university students and teachers, that an important role is entrusted in the construction of the united Europe, firmly rooted in the spiritual traditions and values that have shaped it”. With this message John Paul II greeted over 7,000 university students and staff at the end of the meeting in the Paul VI Hall, on Saturday 13 March, on the occasion of the 2nd European University Day. The meeting, jointly promoted by the Council of the European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), by COMECE, the organization that brings together the episcopates of EU member countries, and by the Office of the diocese of Rome for university apostolate, was characterised by the theme “Christ – Europe’s hope”, expressed in the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Ecclesia in Europa”, and by the presence of 10 youth delegations from the countries that are due to enter the EU on 1st May. After a minute’s silence for the recent terrorist atrocities in Madrid, it was the youngsters coming from Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus who opened the celebration with their flags and who also accompanied the rite of welcoming the Cross. “The university represents – said the Pope – one of the typical environments in which the culture that underwent a characterizing Christian influence was formed in the course of the centuries. This rich heritage of ideals must not be squandered”. YOU ARE THE UNIVERSITIES. “Dear friends of the European Universities – said Cardinal CAMILLO RUINI, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, on handing over to them a copy of the apostolic exhortation ‘Ecclesia in Europa’ – take its message to heart and recall the words of the Holy Father: ‘The Cathedrals speak in silence about the Christian roots of Europe. The Universities speak out aloud about them’. You are the Universities, you teachers, students and non-teaching staff, who have the task of speaking out aloud about our beloved Europe of Christ, our Lord”. It’s an appeal that renews from a religious and spiritual viewpoint the European bond of acceptance and solidarity under a common root that is not only economic and political, as also pointed out by the President of the European Parliament , PAT COX, in the video message he sent for the occasion: “Today Europe is a very different place from what it was 25 years ago. Today the Old Continent is founded on common values that include pluralist democracy, human and civil rights, the rule of law and respect for cultural diversities. For the success of this great project of peace in our history we must – said Cox – be grateful to the pontificate of John Paul II, whose ideals have guided it”. The role played by the Pope – Cox stressed – is in this sense of great importance, and the inclusion of the new countries in the EU is the fulfilment of his appeal for a Europe that breathes with two lungs: “This meant – he continued – that we had to work to keep the two ‘Europes’ united, a powerful symbol also for the promotion of intercultural dialogue between Western Christianity and the religions present in our continent”. A MISSION STRONGLY FELT by the youngsters present in the Paul VI Hall and by all those linked by live satellite links with the capitals of each of the ten countries. Together they animated the Marian vigil, which ended with the pilgrimage of the Cross to the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone (piazza Navona). The torchlight procession that wound its way through the centre of Rome formed at the same time a Via Crucis and a moment of common reflection on the value of the meeting and the words of the Pope. One of the countries that will enter the EU on 1st May is the Czech Republic, a country explains Karin Bencova, of the University of Economics – that experienced “one of the gravest persecutions against Christians, an attempt to eradicate religion completely from the life of society and the consciousness of man. Still today we continue to suffer many of the consequences of this turbulent history. Even though we have now obtained full freedom, our country still belongs to the countries with the lowest percentage of those willing to join the church”. Universities – added Karin – “are one of the greatest signs of hope for the future of Christianity in our country”. What Europe do the young Christians of the Czech Republic dream of? “We wish – she concluded – that in the united Europe, that is about to open its doors to us, faith be strongly linked to culture and reason, love and solidarity, freedom and responsibility”.