A friendship for Europe

The Elysée Treaty that sealed German-French reconciliation, signed on January 22 1963, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Follows the integral version of the joint statement released on Friday, January 18, by the German and French Bishops’ Confereces.The statement is signed by Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, President of the French Bishops’ Conference, and by Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, Archbishop of Freiburg, President of the German Bishops’ Conference. It is with great appreciation that French and German bishops commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty sealing cooperation between our two countries. Strong images come back to our minds: Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer, 8 July 1962, at the reconciliation Mass in Reims Cathedral, Helmut Kohl and François Mitterrand, holding hands before the tombs of the soldiers in Verdun, September 22 1984. More than words, these images symbolize the reconciliation between our two peoples. With reconciliation, French and Germans have learned the lesson of the absurd wars of the past and started their relationship on new foundations. Simultaneously, the Elysée Treaty was the height of the reconciliation between two enemy countries and the starting point for the deepening of friendly relations through political and social contacts at all levels. As bishops we embrace what has been created and developed in the framework of the ‘Treaty of Friendship’. Today, the Franco-German friendship is plain to see, while neither policymakers nor citizens are aware of the exceptional nature of these relations. However, the friendship between our two countries and peoples is now more crucial than ever to recover from the current crisis and for shaping the future of Europe.The Franco-German friendship, which is at the heart of European unification, acted as a beacon for the rest of Europe. Even in the enlarged European union, the Franco-German relationship has preserved its significance. The role played by Germany and France in the attempt to overcome the crisis of the euro, even recently, bears evidence to such efforts. It is because France and Germany are, in the opinion of many, so different that an agreement between the two countries can often provide the basis for an agreement on Europe. The Franco-German friendship thus leads our two countries to assume our mutual responsibilities together in Europe, for Europe… The crisis has revealed irresponsible behaviour in various areas and has sorely tested the solidarity between European countries. Solidarity and responsibility must be more closely connected to the future of Europe. In this regard, the Franco-German reconciliation remains an example of political responsibility and solidarity (cf. "A European Community of Solidarity and responsibility." Declaration of the Bishops of COMECE, January 2012). In this regard, the Franco-German reconciliation remains an example of a politics of responsibility and solidarity. At the Mass of reconciliation in the cathedral of Rheims, Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle symbolized the acknowledgement that politics is built on foundations that it cannot build itself. Love for one’s enemies is a strong Gospel demand that the two statesmen managed to put into practice. Since then, the EU has brought peace and prosperity to its countries. With the economic crisis, however, we are witnessing the re-emergence of contempt and mistrust between the peoples of Europe, the rejection of foreigners, the absence of solidarity. The globalized economy and the mixture of cultures and religions have given rise to other enemies. All over Europe, populist movements advocating withdrawal into self interests are flourishing. The economic crisis reveals a moral crisis, whereby the meaning of life no longer forms part of relationship with others and the need for justice. France and Germany can and must draw from the history of their reconciliation and friendship the force to face the consequences of our current problems. We can also draw inspiration from the past in order to help the European Union establish long-term, solid political structures and an authentic social market economy. We must act to ensure that the respect for human dignity, the common good, and the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity always guide European integration. European integration has become an emblematic form of conflict resolution, as evidenced with the award of the Nobel Prize for Peace to the European Union. The friendship between our two countries, once enemies, may also serve as an example for reconciliation in other parts of the world. This example and this friendship must always be embodied by men and women of our times. And it is precisely for this reason that new initiatives are needed to revitalize political contacts, as well as economic, social and cultural activity. It is equally indispensable to promote mutual learning of languages. The Church has also contributed to the development of Franco-German friendly relations, in particular through the twinning of parishes and the reciprocal visits by Church leaders. In the present context, this 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty is also an opportunity to remember, notably to the younger generations, that reconciliation is not an empty word, but the true path that our countries have already traced in history, which is open to men and women of good will.