For life and democracy

A Church that is ready to "take the streets" to promote life and fundamental rights in all circumstances, that calls upon all believers to commit themselves for the "defense of democracy". The audience granted by pope Francis to the president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences May 10, on the aftermath of the Feast of Europe, provided the occasion to draw a balance on CCEE activity and to prompt a debate on the commitments and priorities of European bishops. Six patron saints of Europe. On top of the agenda of the ecclesial body with its headquarters in St Gallen, Switzerland, figure the knot of religious freedom, the promotion of the citizens’ initiative "One of Us" – calling for the protection of the human person from the moment of conception – contemporary reflections on the relationship between faith and politics, as well as the dimension of ecumenism. The Holy Father received in audience cardinal Péter Erdõ, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, accompanied by CCEE vice-Presidents Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, Italy, and Archbishop Jozef Michalik of Przemysl, Poland. Card. Peter Erdõ said: "We presented the Holy Father with an icon portraying the Virgin Mary with the child, surrounded by Europe’s six patron saints". At the end of the meeting the Hungarian prelate explained that "the six patron saints" (Sts Cyril and Methodius, Benedict of Nursia, Catherine of Siena, Brigid of Sweden, Edith Stein), "represent the diversity characterising" the European continent. "These different identities put together symbolize European identity as a whole. United Europe is created not by neglecting or overlooking national features but by reconciling diversity in a higher and common identity", said the CCEE president. That common identity, pointed out Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, must encompass "authentic reconciliation between peoples and States", charitable deeds "without which faith is an empty container", the creation of social justice and peace, and solidarity bonds with poor countries. The extension of the crisis. The first comments on the visit in the Vatican – in the words of CCEE leaders – highlight the need, and the corresponding will of the Churches, to bring about a renewed presence across European society which is marked by a "deep, ethical, anthropological, spiritual crisis, that is not merely ‘economic’", Bagnasco pointed out. From this perspective Christians are called to bear profound and modern Christian witness, for an "awakening of consciences" and for the protection of children, of the forlorn and of social outcasts. "Indeed, the crisis isn’t only economic. It’s an ethical and anthropological crisis", added the president of Italian bishops. "It isn’t even only European, but rather a global crisis, in the sense that it involves all aspects" of human existence. Thus "it can be observed that the difficulties experienced in the political realm stem from ethical destructure". The Christian community in Europe should ensure the recovery of the "points of reference" of universal values that give priority to the good of man and of society as a whole. The CCEE assembly scheduled for next October is in fact centered on an emblematic theme: "God and the State. Between laity and secularism".Democracy and values. "Pope Francis has shown great interest for ecumenism, which falls within CCEE areas of interest": Msgr. Jozef Michalik delved into other aspects of the audience in the Vatican with the leaders of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences. The Holy Father, said Msgr. Michalik, "highlighted the need to promote authentic closeness with our Christian brothers in faith, as with the members of other religions". Michalik underlined the situations of "suffering" experienced by the faithful in Europe. For example, he said, in Bosnia-Herzegovina "the number of Christians has sharply decreased" during the period of the Balkan conflict. Thus today the Christian community in that region is "discriminated" and subjected to "injustice". The Polish bishop added that also in Poland "One of Us" is largely supported by the population as a whole. "Many lay and young people are engaged in raising public awareness" and collecting signatures of endorsement for the initiative. Finally, Msgr. Michalik noted an "awakening" on the themes of life and of the family, "as it happened in France" in protest of the Toubira law (marriage and adoptions for same sex couples.) "In moments like this Christians and the Church must strive to defend the principles of democracy and fundamental rights".