“A Europe without selfish nationalism, in which the nations are seen as vital centres of a cultural richness that deserves to be protected and promoted to the advantage of everyone”. That is one of the aspects of the Pope’s “dream” and his “vision” of a united Europe. He recounted his dream in the Clementine Hall in the Vatican on 24 March, during the ceremony for the award of the Extraordinary Charlemagne International Prize, presented to him by the Mayor of Aachen in Germany, Jürgen Linden, and by Walter Evershein, chairman of the Award’s executive council. “I dream of a Europe in which the conquests of science, the economy and social prosperity shall not be aimed at a senseless consumerism said John Paul II -, but be at the service of every person in need and of aid and solidarity for those countries that are trying to achieve the goal of social security”: a Europe that may “become an active factor of peace in the world”. The Europe that the Pope had in mind is one whose “unity is founded on true liberty”: “a political, indeed spiritual unity, in which the Christian politicians of all countries act in the consciousness of the human riches that the faith brings with it”. The Charlemagne Prize “for the contribution to European integration” was awarded this year ex aequo also to Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, who will receive it in Aachen City Hall on 20 May. ¤
