Together for Europe

On September 19-20 the event “Together for Europe” was held in Italy for the first time. Dozens of ecclesial movements, associations and new communities in Italy were represented by 1400 participants. The encounter, co-organized by the Focolari Movement, by the John XIII association, by the Renewal in the Holy Spirit and by the Saint Egidio Community follows the wake of the meetings held in Stuttgart in 2004 and in 2007 and similar events held in 2009 in cities across Europe. The event was endorsed by the Italian Bishops’ Conference and by the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano. In a telegram President Napolitano reiterated the “special relevance” of the commitment of “those who contribute to the promotion of a strong sense of solidarity and social cohesion”.The final statement. The following points were highlighted in the final statement signed on September 20th by movements and associations representatives in Loppiano: “To promote the love for life from the moment of conception to its natural termination, to protect the family, to devote attention to the youth, granting solidarity and reception to people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds”. The final statement clearly states the Ecclesial movements’ commitment to “renew and give Europe a soul”, starting from Italy. “We walk together for an economy to the service of the common good, for the development of disadvantaged Countries, starting from African Countries, and for fraternity in all environments, between different populations and ethnicities, to the service of peace and for the unity of the human family”. These commitments, is written in the statement, stem from a culture of “sharing” that comes from putting into practice the Word of God. This concept was reiterated by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity in a message sent to the event’s participants, “Your contribution is for a Europe capable of humanity, a Europe of the spirit which gives a soul to all human realities, living and bearing witness to your faith in your daily lives”, His Eminence wrote. A new spirit. Maria Voce Emmaus, national coordinator of the Focolari movement, retraced some episodes of the life of the Movement’s founder Chiara Lubich, and reaffirmed the centrality of the Word of God and its role in the erection of the European home. “Indeed, the life of the Gospel flourished in all the movements, with the peculiar traits of the different charismas that the Lord munificently bestowed, whose thrust was perceived by all those who underwent this path of communion. Sharing the fruits of this life has brought us to share also our hopes and our dreams, joining our strategies and forces in the quest of a new spirit that may give new vitality to the Christian roots of Europe”.“Europe is undergoing a moment of difficulty”, acknowledged Marco Impagliazzo, from the Saint Egidio Community, referring to voters’ lack of interest in the latest European election, the increasing sentiments of separatism and division in Great Britain, Belgium, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Austria, the surging xenophobic and localistic movements, discrimination against gypsies, oppressive legislation against foreigners and the ongoing distancing from Africa. “Europe’s mission ought to be reconsidered, given the globalised, contradictory and confused world. There still is a need for Europe”, Impagliazzo said, “but European citizens don’t seem to realize it. Europeans have grown scared and detached”. Impagliazzo calls upon self-absorbed Europe “to become a unifying force, capable of engendering dialogue among peoples that were divided by historical events, without erasing their identities. This is the charisma of Europe, which has a mission and a vocation for unity and peace. Europeans possess precious human values for the future of the world which they cannot disperse”. Thus, Europe’s Christian lay movements “ought to ensure that Europe continues being constructed. Christianity can force the doors of fear and closure and give rise to a new humanism”.”We experience the evil fabric of our Continent – warned Salvatore Martinez, President of Renewal in the Holy Spirit – Europe is missing God. Our presence must not pass unnoticed. In order to create peoples’ unity on the basis of spiritual values and spiritual roots, we must jointly refer to our Holy Scriptures that constitute the noblest part of the history of European peoples. We must prevent others from estranging Christianity. The Gospel is unchanged and Europe in Christ shall never age. Men and women in prayer are the greatest treasure of hope for this world”.