A common road

“The theme of the Assembly, planned some time ago, is religious freedom, with particular reference to Christians. In the light of recent events, this theme encompasses the need to address the situation of Christian Churches in the Middle East, notably in North Africa”. Msgr. Gianni Ambrosio, bishop of Piacenza-Bobbio, delegate of the Italian Bishops’ Conference to COMECE (the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community) presents to SIR COMECE’s spring plenary meeting titled “Christian Churches in Maghreb and Mashriq” that opened in Brussels on April 6 (square de Meeûs 19 – ongoing until the 8th). Card. Antonios Naguib, Coptic Catholic Patriarch in Alexandria (Egypt); Msgr. Youssef Soueif, Maronite Archbishop in Cyprus, and Nabil Khalife Kamal, geopolitics and geo-strategy expert from Lebanon took part in a debate on this theme held the first evening of the Conference (at 19.30 hrs).As relates to the crisis in Northern Africa, what do you think the way in which Brussels is handling the refugee emergency? “It is necessary to overcome ongoing slowdowns, difficulties and fragmentation of EU unitary intervention, action shouldn’t be confined to mere economic measures but rather it should encompass a far-reaching political vision. What is still lacking is an assumption of collective responsibility, a joint commitment for solidarity and inclusiveness undertaken by the EU and by national governments starting with a common project that will bring about new policies of sharing, proximity, support and rights’ implementation; a sort of intelligent and visionary solidarity that will address the need for peace and justice that is part and parcel of the founding European project. Before an ever-more complex and interdependent society, there is an even stronger need for common regulations on immigration and human rights. It is also on the answers that the EU will be able to provide on the short and long run, that is based the EU’s credibility”.A few days ago the president of the Barroso Commission underlined that the EU is also a solidarity and inclusion project…“It certainly is for the peoples and citizens living in the continent. But it’s also a project of hope for those living on the opposite Mediterranean shores that have been placing their hopes in us over the past weeks. I do confide that despite the different sensitivities and the complexity of the procedures, Europe will manage to take stock of this situation, but it needs to be helped develop its ‘maturity.’ To this regard the commitment of European Christians must enable high ideals that will transform Europe into a true ‘common home’ to prevail. If not, Europe risks tainting its memory and jeopardising its future. When public opinion is well-structured, political decisions naturally follow”.Is the idea of Europe sufficiently present in the conscience of Churches and of ecclesial bodies?“I believe there is full availability to support the European project, along with a common and shared horizon, but it is necessary to identify concrete ways to turn this horizon into concrete action and highlight the EU’s ability to implement proactive undertakings on a daily basis. The Churches present at national level can help European peoples draw closer to Europe. As relates to the discomfort experienced in Italy for Europe’s silence on the events in the Maghreb countries, as Churches we should point out that Italian public opinion is awaiting an answer, but I am sure that also other European populations are expecting an intelligent, strong and common stand from Brussels. Triggering the involvement of ‘high’ political environments on the pastors’ understanding of the peoples’ sentiment is per se a significant achievement”.What should be asked of Community institutions?“To grant further space and voice to the claims of civil society, to those realities midway, including parishes and Christian communities, that detect a yearning for Europe, so as to ‘listen’ to the sensitivities at grassroots level, and not only the claims of the technocrats. The Church cannot and does not want to undertake political stands, her role and her responsibilities are different from those of European institutions. However she can ‘help’ recover the human element within politics and in decision-making processes”.Also thanks to the commitment of COMECE and KEK, over a month ago the EU finally took a clear stand against the persecution of Christians…“It was a long and difficult journey, at times even discouraging, but the outcome certainly met the expectations of the public opinion. Great vigilance is necessary since when religious freedom is at stake, all the fundamental rights of the human person are at stake”.