The Church to come” “

The “state of health” of Christianity in Europe and the Church’s commitment to evangelise European culture and society in order to respond to the “request for God” expressed by the men and women of today, these were the subjects discussed by the 34 presidents of the European Episcopal Conferences that belong to the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), during their plenary session which was held in Leeds, England, from 30 September to 3 October. During the meetings, attention was also given to the current situation of ecumenism with a view to the third European ecumenical assembly in 2007. Among those taking part was the Primate of the Church of England, Archbishop Rowan Williams. GREETINGS FROM THE POPE. “May you lead the inhabitants of your countries to rediscover their common spiritual roots and the lasting wisdom of Christian heritage. Your commitment to the new evangelisation is an act of faith in the perennial value of the Gospel, which in the history of the European people has produced an abundant harvest of sanctity, education, culture and civilisation”. These words were written by JOHN PAUL II in a message sent to the presidents of the CCEE, meeting in Leeds for their plenary assembly. The text, published on 4 October as part of the closing CCEE communiqué, goes on: “Through your testimony, believers will be strengthened in their own specific identities and, consequently, better able to work together to build a Christian culture capable of evangelising the broader culture in which we live”. Europe and christianity. Among the themes discussed by the assembly were: the significance of Christianity for Europe today, ecumenism, Churches and the European Constitution, a third European ecumenical assembly, co-operation between Episcopal Conferences, and CCEE projects, especially in the field of evangelisation and pastoral care. The work of the assembly was opened by CCEE president, Bishop AmédÉe Grab, who posed two questions: “How do others see us? How do we see ourselves?” Today’s culture, he said, “is our missionary context, and the more we understand and respect it, the more fruitful will be our work on behalf of that culture and on behalf of all those who live within it”. “moral toxins”. The assembly then asked itself the question “where is the Church going” and “what form will Europe and its Churches have in twenty years time as regards evangelisation and the role of the Church on our continent”. On this subject, the archbishop of Bordeaux, Msg. Jean Pierre Ricard, listed some of the “moral toxins” that Europe must “combat and reject” for the good of its own harmonious development: “the secularising trend, with the phenomena of individualism and standardisation; the tendency to consider religion as an obstacle; the emergence of fundamentalism and terrorism”. In Archbishop Ricard’s view, the Church can be “a source of wealth” for European society, “defending the dignity of each individual, of the family, and especially of the poorest and most needy; creating a correct distinction between religion and politics; educating for ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue; creating in Europe a culture of solidarity open to the world”. He suggested three practical commitments: “strengthen dialogue with contemporary culture; create a more profound dialogue with the Muslim presence in Europe, especially in the academic world; continue the campaign in defence of Sunday as a day free from work and dedicated to God”. the example of st francis. If inter-religious dialogue represents “a practical commitment”, ecumenical dialogue is no less so. Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor defined ecumenical dialogue as “a road with no turning back”. How, the cardinal asked, “can the Christians of Europe generate a faith rich in enthusiasm, a sincere, and courageous faith such as may show true testimony to the men and women of today?” The Archbishop of Westminster highlighted the figure of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Europe. St Francis, he said, “shows us that there is no way to be missionaries in Europe without committing ourselves to sanctity. The Beatitudes are our inspiration, the new Rule that must guide us if we wish to be true disciples of Jesus Christ in the world today”. On the basis of these reflections, the assembly discussed the possibility of a new ecumenical initiative at a European level in order to continue: “the process that began with the assemblies in Basel in 1989 and Graz in 1997”. Finally, particular attention was given to the structure of the Constitutional Treaty, and to the meaning of Article I-52 and of other provisions concerning the subject of religious liberty.