"I think of a Europe…" ” “” “

“A Europe without selfish nationalism, in which the advances of science, the economy and social welfare shall be placed at the service of everyone; a Europe whose unity is founded on true freedom, united thanks to the dedication of the young. A Europe united not only politically but especially spiritually, in which the Christian politicians of all countries are at the service of everyone for a Europe of man, on whom the face of God shines”. That is “the dream” that John Paul II “bears in his heart” and that he revealed on 24 March, on receiving the Charlemagne International Prize of the city of Aachen in Germany for his commitment to Europe. The Pope’s five dreams are quoted below (in bold type), each accompanied by brief comments by various experts. “I think of 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”. “No to nationalism, no to uprooting, yes to a salutary patriotism. Just as the State cannot substitute the essential cell for the healthy development of individuals represented by the family, so it is also very important to live within a country enriched by its own history, culture and traditions. That’s why we need to be conscious of our heritage and our responsibility to develop the sacrifices and the efforts of the generations that have preceded us. But love for our own land and our own country must not become nationalistic glorification. Europe is not a nation: it is a family of nations, composed of various national cultures that together form the European cultural patrimony. Integration would be damaging if it were to suppress the development of the individual national cultures, especially that of the smaller countries”. (Marian Gavenda, spokesman of the Slovak Episcopal Conference) “I think of a Europe in which the advances of science, the economy and social welfare shall not be geared to senseless consumerism, but be at the service of everyone in need and of aid to those countries that are trying to achieve the goal of social security. May Europe, that has suffered so many bloody wars in its history, become an active factor of peace in the world!…” “Can we Europeans be satisfied with the economy we have developed? If we think of what happened from 1500 to 1820, with an economic growth of 56%, compared with the 1,500% from then to the present day, we would say yes. But the words of John Paul II demonstrate to us that this solution of the economic problem is only apparent. If this wealth is geared, as the Pope says, to a senseless consumerism, there’s little that can be done. Europe cannot just sit back and contemplate with indifference the hunger and shortages of every kind in the rest of the world. Ever since she became rich Europe has suffered the temptation to be no longer caring. For how long? For so long as the Treaty of free trade with North Africa? For so long as a multitude of European companies continue to import factors of corruption into African countries? For so long as we avoid solving many problems linked to immigration in Europe? Only by overcoming all this shall Europe have the right to be satisfied, because only then, as the Pope hopes, shall she be ‘converted into an active factor of peace in the world'”. ( Juan Velarde Fuertes, economist, professor at the Complutensian University in Madrid, Spain) “I think of a Europe whose unity is founded on true freedom. Freedom of religion and social freedoms have ripened as precious fruits out of the humus of Christianity. Without freedom there is no responsibility: neither towards God, nor towards man. Especially after Vatican Council II, the Church has wished to give ample scope for freedom. The modern state is conscious of not being a constitutional state if it does not protect and promote the freedom of its citizens in their opportunities to express themselves, both individually and collectively”. “The Pope’s observation can be shared, all the more because it expresses a highly provocative concept: the concept that the European identity is not the fruit of modernity, as many maintain, but of its Christian roots to which modernity has been grafted, producing further fruit. The Christian identity in this context fundamentally means the recognition of the autonomy of the temporal dimension, which is independent of the spiritual dimension, just as the Church is independent of the State. But this autonomy neither endorses nor justifies some forms of extreme secularism that have now powerfully come back into fashion and that claim to radically privatise any religious experience, as if this were dangerous for a secular public order. The opposite is true: namely, that any secular public order, if it is to preserve its autonomy, has a need for the foundation of values that only a religious outlook can properly guarantee. Religion therefore is neither premodern nor postmodern, but a constitutive element of the human identity in general”. (Francesco D’Agostino, president of the Union of Italian Catholic Jurists) “I think of a Europe united thanks to the dedication of the young. With such ease the young understand each other, transcending geographical frontiers! But how can a young generation be born that is open to what is true, beautiful and noble, and what is worth making sacrifices for, if the family in Europe is no longer an institution open to life and disinterested love? A family in which the elderly too form an integral part with a view to what is most important: the active mediation of values and the meaning of life”. “John Paul II urges the young generations never to forget what is true and what is good. He himself represents the best possible example of this. This Pope has dedicated his pontificate to the young more than any other. The World Youth Days (WYD) represent the clearest sign of this. The youth of the world are grateful to the Pope for the gift of World Youth Days that help to transmit values and treat the questions posed by the faith in a simple way and with the “light-heartedness” hoped for by the Pope. John Paul II invites the youth of the world to live with this same light-heartedness, not “superficial”, but “profound”. So the Pope expects a lot from the young. But since he has faith in the young, he considers them “constructors of a new civilization of love and of justice”. And as such, the young participate in the construction of a united Europe. The many youth meetings in the world and the great WYD, in which their work as constructors acquires visibility, are so to say the cement of the construction site of Europe. Or, in other words: without the young nothing can be done. The Pope too believes this”. (Matthias Kopp, spokesman of the 20th World Youth Day, Cologne 2005) “The Europe I have in mind is a political, indeed spiritual unity, in which the Christian politicians of all countries act in the consciousness of the human richness that the faith bears in itself: men and women dedicated to making these values bear fruit, by placing themselves at the service of everyone for a Europe of man on whom the face of God shines”. “This appeal of the Pope not to separate politics and spirituality seems to me very important: he considers this unity essential in the commitment of Christian politicians, whom he hopes will put into practice the human riches that the faith bears in itself. In defence of human dignity the Pope often underlines the limits that should not be overstepped; even more forcibly he emphasized, in his speech on the occasion of the award of the Charlemagne International Prize by the city of Aachen, the value of the faith as a positive element to enrich the commitment of those who work in the political sphere. The Pope, with reference to the process of European integration and the drafting of the constitutional treaty, has often spoken of the need for Europe to recognize the rightful position of the major religions and Christianity in particular: this legacy has contributed to the cultural and moral character of our continent. It’s an appeal not to fundamentalism or to competition with other religions, but an appeal to take into account and put into practice the riches of our own faith. In short, if God is not our Father, we are not brothers: the paternity of God is therefore the foundation for common life in Europe”. (Msgr. Amédée Grab, Bishop of Chur, President of the CCEE)