History’s light

Relativism, religious pluralism, secularism, demographic crisis, national integration and relations with emerging powers are some of the challenges that Europe is called to address in the near future. The theme was broached during the meeting “Bishops and the new Europe”, held February 22 at the Catholic University in Milan. The meeting draws inspiration from the volume “Les Évêques et la nouvelle Europe. Textes officiels du Ccee (1992-2006)” published in Paris by Cerf in 2010, which brings together over one hundred documents released by European bishops in the years 1992 – 2006 in a phase that university dean Lorenzo Ornaghi, described as “crucial”, being “marked by the need to redefine European territories after 1989, ensuing the fall of the Berlin Wall”. The book is the result of activity conducted by CESEN (Centre for Studies on Ecclesial Institutions).The recovery of religion in Europe. “In envisaging the future of Europe – explained Msgr. Aldo Giordano, permanent Observer of the Holy See at the Council of Europe – we realise that religious pluralism will increasingly expand, especially given global demographic trends and migration flows. For this reason, religion has currently recovered a central role in the European milieu”. The representative of the Holy See recalled several episodes tied to his “European” experience, in his capacities as Secretary General of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) for over a decade. “In the past 15 years – he underlined – we witnessed the emergence of two phenomena that are partly intertwined. On the one side, European territory has grown smaller being replaced by an increasingly expanding global village, whereby European borders have extended beyond eye’s reach, on the other, an accelerated pace has led to ever more pressing technological progress. Fifteen years ago almost no Bishops’ Conference had a Bioethics Commission, whilst today its absence would be unconceivable.” By March 12, added Msgr. Giordano, “the European Court on Human Rights is due to release the sentence on the Crucifix and its motivations. We are looking forward to this moment in the hope that the Court’s ruling will be favourable”.For a new evangelization. In addition to this, it cannot be denied that religious pluralism is gaining grounds. “On a population of 800 million people – pointed out Msgr. Giordano – some 600 million are Christians (300 million Catholics), but we are aware of the complexities linked to these figures. In fact, non-Christian religions are stepping up their presence, while neo-pagan and atheist movements, along with secularization, are increasingly widespread. In this framework Christians’ contribution is hindered by the inability to act as a single voice in Europe”. This is a weakness that is called to confront increasingly prevailing forms of relativism. “We have witnessed the gradual disappearance of certain fundamental values from our societies”, explained Msgr. Giordano. “Words such as family, husband, father and mother have been stripped of their meaning, and in some cases they have also been eliminated from public documents and replaced by neutral terms”. In this context, Christianity “is being emptied and replaced with an ignorance of Christianity”. “In recent years – His Eminence continues – hundreds of debates have focused on the Christian roots of Europe, and often reference was made to concepts that do not belong to Christianity, or at least not to its essence. Evangelization is thus to be viewed as one of the major challenges we are called to address. Christians are tasked with promoting an understanding of historical questions to the light of eternity”.Recovering self-trust. “If Europe intends to continue acting as the fountainhead of civilization – reiterated Msgr. Gianni Ambrosio, bishop of Piacenza-Bobbio, CEI delegate at the Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of the European Community (COMECE) – it must recover self-trust. Only in this way will it be able to overcome the tragic fall in population growth that risks causing its “farewell”. “It ought to defeat individualism and boost social cohesion, marked by a vision of solidarity that encompasses the next generations.” In his address Msgr. Ambrosio recalled the important contribution of John Paul II, along with his “passion for Europe”, which “promoted the bishops’ interest and the need to identify the specific contribution of the Catholic Church to the European unification project”. The bishops’ commitment – “despite the difficulties”, namely, the failed mention of the Christian roots of Europe in the Constitutional Treaty or the presence of a “neutral Europe” in the realm of values – “is ongoing, so as to promote the establishment of a common European home, marked by the acknowledgement and the respect of European populations’ identity, not only in terms of economic and political interests, but especially as relates to the patrimony of universal values”.