Recovering hope” “

Economy, politics, rights, values: are we witnessing changes across Europe? The question is rhetoric, the answer is known. The old continent is undergoing rapid transformations within a global context that proceeds at a run. What direction can be followed at this stage? What are the possible points of reference? What are the challenges under way? Which is the context of the “new evangelization?” These are some of the items on the agenda of the annual meeting of spokespersons and press officers of European Bishops’ Conferences promoted by CCEE in Bucharest June 12 through 15. The reflections of over 50 participants fall within the guidance of the apostolic exhortation “Ecclesia in Europa”, published by John Paul II ten years ago, June 28 2003.  A busy agenda. Fr Michel Remery, CCEE Vice-Secretary general will deliver the welcoming address of the meeting organised by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences. Panel speakers include Fr Eduard Mihai Cosa, Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Romania, and Thaddeus Jones, who will read a message sent by the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Msgr. Celli. The program of the four-day meeting in Bucharest envisages several sessions with a wide range of speakers: the first panel is dedicated to the changes underway in Europe, then panel speakers will address thorny subjects such as gender theory, euthanasia, freedom of religion and the so-called “marriage for all”, which affect the daily activities of the spokespersons of national churches. There will be further opportunities for discussion on national issues, the “new rights” that are gaining grounds, as well as the relations between the churches, public opinion and the media. “This is the second time that the meeting of the spokespersons and press officers of the churches in Europe takes place in Romania – Thierry Bonaventura, CCEE press secretary, told SIR Europe -, the first occasion was linked to the last Ecumenical Assembly and our meeting was in Sibiu, in 2007”.Revitalizing Christian hope. “The intention is to discuss micro-phenomena that characterize our times with a view to the missionary activity of the Church in Europe today, in the light of ‘Ecclesia in Europa’, that reveals, ten years later, its prophetic vision and its topical relevance”, Bonaventura explained. “Europe appears to be facing a season of loss and a darkening of hope”, added the CCEE press officer. “In particular, in these times of crisis affecting most our Countries, a large number of citizens feel disoriented, disappointed by institutions, while the benchmarks which have guided the life models of Western Europe to date are increasingly blurred. Present Europe appears to be overcome by a wave of fear rather than a yearning for a future”. But for Bonaventura, this crisis “which isn’t only economic in nature but also anthropologic, ethical and spiritual, can serve as an opportunity so that Europe may distance itself from practical agnosticism and religious indifference, thus deciding for its future in the encounter with the human person and the message of Jesus Christ, source of peace and hope”.Which rights, which languages. Over the past decade the world, and Europe with it, has had to face serious challenges, real shocks, unexpected transformations, that weren’t always coherent, logic or credible. “These are times when the so-called new rights seem to prevail, thereby legitimizing and giving equal footing to individual choices and preferences and preventing evaluations carried out on moral grounds. It could even be said that the mere fact of believing, as recalled in the post-Synod exhortation, requires social legitimization”.That’s why the agenda of the meeting includes space for debate on “how it could be possible to dialogue with this widespread mentality, which perhaps expects that the Church adopts new and modern forms of communication, and convincing messages of hope””.We will ask ourselves once more who are contemporary men and women, where they are going, and how the Catholic Church can stand by them, proposing with new words and modern tools, also on the plane of communication, the unchangeable values of the Gospel”.Privacy, News.va and AppPope. On the agenda of the meeting in Bucharest figures also the presentation of a report on the theme of copyright and privacy, to verify in which ways these apparently “technical” aspects are related to citizens’ lives, thus also affecting ecclesial action. Last but not least, a panel meeting focused on important events in the life of the Church over the past months (the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis), updates on the activities of CCEE and COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community), along with the presentation of the portal News.va and the application AppPope.