Thinking of the youth

“Leading the youth to perceive in their minds and their hearts that they are the future of Europe, a recent past which is already distant to them”, Msgr. Piotr Jarecki, auxiliary bishop of Warsaw and vice-president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), told SIR Europe that this is one of the objectives of the first “Catholic Social Days for Europe” promoted in Gdansk by COMECE. “Solidarity, a challenge for Europe” is the theme of the meeting held in the hometown of Solidarnosc. SIR Europe discussed the event with Msgr.Jarecki, who is the President of the Days’ organizing committee. What is the objective of the Days?“To seek the paths of ‘European’ solidarity to the light of the social doctrine of the Church, applied to the political, economic and social issues that contemporary Europe is called to address in the framework of the current world crisis. Solidarity must be understood as a challenge and as an objective, involving the youth in the debate on European values. Our point of departure is the vision of man – thus the value of human dignity and the right to life that is being increasingly threatened and that ought to call into question the European Union in areas such as bioethics, employment, the environment and migration – to conclude with the theme of the common good in a global perspective and for the future generations. But the path of reflection encompasses the theme of the family, the vital cell of society, which even despite its crisis still remains the major value of reference of European citizens, and requires protection and support; the Christian guidelines for European economic and social model, taking into account that in the forthcoming months the developments of the Lisbon Strategy are planned to be debated and adopted; the solidarity linked to subsidiarity. In these areas, and starting from the inspiration offered by Church social doctrine, we will address the possible concrete initiatives at European level and the citizens’ contribution”.What are the reasons for the choice of the date and place? “We decided to organize the Days on the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, thirty years since John Paul II’s first visit to Poland (1979) and 20 years since the first ‘semi-free’ elections of the Polish parliament and the recovery of democracy in Eastern Europe. Gdansk represents a symbolical choice since on August 31 1980 in the city’s dockyard the workers on strike signed the so-called ‘August agreement’ with the Polish government and gave birth to Solidarnosc, which marked the change in Poland and paved the way to the transformations across all former Communist countries”.You wished to involve a large number of young people… “Some 50% of participants are under 35. Many of them work at Gdansk’s “European Centre” for historical research and social science, that co-organized the Days in conjunction with the German Catholics’ solidarity initiative “Renovabis”. Some of them work in the “John Paul II Centre” in Warsaw. A large part of the youth from the different countries is member of the organizing Committee. The youth are the pioneers of future Europe. We want them to be conscious of the roots that brought freedom and democracy to Eastern Europe and that marked the beginning of the Continent’s reunification process. Without roots there is no hope for the future. But to them, the events of 20 years ago are far away in time, since they did aren’t part of their personal experience. We intend to enable the youth to perceive these events with their minds and their hearts so they may be sown and bring fruits in their own Countries. Acknowledging their roots and the lives of the brave protagonists of these historical events will enable the youth to find motivation and enthusiasm, in order to give renewed impetus to Europe”.What does COMECE expect from this meeting? “Let us hope that this event may become a privileged occasion of reflection for European Catholics and that it may highlight the importance of solidarity between men and nations. We also expect the inspiration for an ever greater commitment in the European common home founded on solidarity and for the good of each one of its citizens”.What do you think of the results of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty? “The positive vote increases the chances of concluding the Treaty’s ratification process by the end of the year, and its ensuing enforcement will bring to a better performance of EU institutions, even in the framework of the integration process and the pursuance of the common good. Moreover, thanks to article 17, EU institution-Church dialogue, that was consolidated over the years, is likely to gain further strength”.