The prophetic force of an idea

“On January 6 2011, at the end of the Jubilee year, John Paul II gave us a slogan loaded us with hope: ‘Duc in altum’, that conveys the liberating message of the Gospel. ‘Ecclesia in Europa’ thus became a ‘translation’ of this program for the European continent” Cardinal Cristoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, president of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, told Paolo Bustaffa who interviewed His Eminence on the apostolic post-synod exhortation by Pope Wojtyla, ten years since its publication. When “Ecclesia in Europa” was published on June 29 2003 which were your first thoughts reading the words of John Paul II? “The Second Special Assembly for Europe was held in the month of October 1999. It was immediately before the end of the millennium, with great hopes for a new beginning inside the Church. In fact the theme of the Special Synod was ‘Jesus Christ – source of hope for Europe.’ When ‘Ecclesia in Europe’ was published, we had already read the Apostolic Letter ‘Novo Millennio Ineunte’ in which John Paul II, on January 6 2001, at the end of the jubilee year, gave us a message loaded with hope: ‘Duc in altum’ – outside the sacristies towards the open seas, to bring the liberating message of the Gospel to contemporary men and women who wonder about the meaning and the purpose of life. ‘Ecclesia in Europa’ can be best described as a ‘translation’ of this program for the European continent”.  Which of the seeds sown by John Paul II with Ecclesia in Europa have blossomed in our continent? “John Paul II highlighted the fact that the unity of Europe ‘cannot be limited to mere political and economic pragmatism.’ Ten years later we see even more clearly the prophetic force of this idea. The great European peace project will be successful provided that it is not confined to pragmatism. Daily news testify to this situation, while citizens and political leaders are also aware of it. If Europe wants to live its vocation fully, if this continent is truly to become a home for all its peoples, then it is necessary to reflect on the fundamental values, to which Christianity provides a fundamental contribution. There are also other examples that stem from the seed of ‘Ecclesia in Europa’, such as n.°49: ‘Europe calls out for credible evangelizers, whose lives, in communion with the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ, radiate the beauty of the Gospel. Now more than ever a missionary consciousness is needed in all Christians.’ In fact, it can be said that in Europe we witness the rediscovery of the missionary dimension of the Church”. What are the items of the apostolic exhortation that are yet to be accomplished? “Nr.95 is particularly significant: ‘The growing age and declining population in various European countries cannot fail to be a cause of concern; the falling birthrate is in fact symptomatic of a troubled relationship with our own future. It is a clear indication of a lack of hope and a sign of the “culture of death” present in contemporary society. I equally wish to underline n. 50: ‘The proclamation of the Gospel of hope thus implies a concern to foster the movement from a faith supported by social tradition, important as this is, to a more personal and adult faith, one marked by knowledge and conviction. Christians are therefore “called to have a faith capable of critically confronting contemporary culture…; having an real effect on the world of culture, finance, society and politics; of demonstrating that the fellowship between Catholics and other Christians is more powerful than any ethnic bond; of joyfully passing on the faith to new generations.’ And here, a lot remains to be done. It is ever more urgent to speak of hope in Europe today. But it’s also more difficult. How can we restore hope in Europeans? “The answer is found in n. 104: ‘The appeal to exercise an active charity, which the Synod Fathers addressed to all the Christians of the European continent,(167) represents the happy synthesis of an authentic service of the Gospel of hope.’ ‘The joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of contemporary Europeans, especially the poor and the suffering’, must also be ‘your joys and your hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of the Church in Europe’. May everything that is ‘authentically human’ find an echo in the heart of the Church. May we look at Europe and its progress with the sympathy of those who don’t shut their eyes before all those elements that contrast with the Gospel, and appreciate all the positive aspects”.