Growing together

May this initiative “strengthen the desire for communion that animates these ecclesial movements. May it “help to remove prejudices, overcome nationalism and historical barriers, and encourage people to commit themselves to the preservation of the spiritual dimension in post-modern Europe”. That is the hope expressed by BENEDICT XVI in the message, signed by the Holy See’s Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and sent to Stuttgart (Germany) on 12 May, on the occasion of the ecumenical meeting “Together for Europe 2007”. Over 10,000 participants, representatives of 240 church movements and new Christian communities – Catholic, Evangelical, Lutheran, Orthodox and Anglican – attended the meeting (the second of its kind: the first was held in 2004). “A slogan for Europe could be ‘spirituality of communion’: Pope John Paul II spoke in his testament of a spirituality of communion, and not of division. That means that each of you should respect others, that you should create together, and that Europe and the Church should grow together… You should open a road of salvation for all of us, for a Europe that had a soul, for a Europe that has a heart”, declared Cardinal WALTER KASPER, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, in his address to the ecumenical meeting in Stuttgart. Below we present a brief anthology of thoughts on Europe expressed during the meeting, taken from the special number that the Italian review Città Nuova (37 editions in 22 languages in 5 continents) has dedicated to the event. LAND OF JUSTICE AND FREEDOM. “I would like us to consider Europe as a place where the message of Christ calls us to be reconciled and live in peace. A place where our attention for each other must grow, transcending all frontiers. A place where consideration be given to our unity in diversity, we who are men and women created in the image of God, even if we belong to different cultures… I would like us to consider our continent as a land of justice and solidarity. Our society leaves behind those who are slower” and those “who are less gifted: we therefore owe them a debt of solidarity … I would like us to consider our continent as a land of hospitality and freedom” for those “who come to knock on our door”. ( JEAN-ARNOLD DE CLERMONT , President of the Conference of European Churches – CEC – and of the Evangelical Churches in France) EUROPE AND THE GOSPEL . “In many parts of Europe the relation between the Churches is still characterised by prejudice and discrimination. We will be unable to serve Europe and the world if each is absorbed only by its own road and its own interests. Each of us knows that enthusiasm for Europe has now been replaced by scepticism and even by the fear of suffering disadvantages. In this critical situation, we Christians must ask ourselves whether our assent to Christ is really stronger than the forces that divide us… Our movements can and must help to ensure that the spiritual renewal of Europe be supported and promoted by the Gospel”, preached both at the personal and at the public level… A renewal born from the personal encounter with Jesus” is “the greatest service that Christianity can render to modern Europe”. ( ULRICH PARZANAY , President of “Pro Christ”, German Evangelical Church) A POWERFUL LEVER. “Europe consists of various Christian confessions. That is fortunate: these confessions were the crucible of our peoples and of their future. Probably it is the vocation of ecumenism to remove what political action alone is unable to do… If we dream of an undivided Church, we dream at the same time of Europe. Just think what a powerful lever for the construction of Europe would be a real conversion of our mind and our heart!”. ( GERARD TESTARD , President of the Foundation “Chrétiens pour le monde”) PASSION FOR EUROPE. “When I see the people gathered here today, I have a vision: European men and women united. It is the vision of a united Europe… If the institutions are hidebound, if the processes are slow, if the politicians hesitate, if one group throws the blame for the impasse on others, we European Christians must have the courage to promote a common European feeling that can dwell in hearts and minds… Being European Christians together for Europe has a prophetic sense. A prophetic people means a people able to think together, and share a feeling of community that may become a vital source of renewal among our fellow-citizens, Christians or non-Christians, believers or non-believers…. We have a common European destiny”. “What future shall we Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Hungarians, Portuguese and other Europeans have if we do not go forward together? Europe is not the centre of the world” and “we must stand together in tomorrow’s world, because we have precious values of freedom, faith, solidarity and culture to share. Divided, we shall squander ourselves”, but “together we shall foster the passion for Europe. May being Europeans become a real vocation”. ( ANDREA RICCARDI , founder of the St. Egidio Community, Italy)