Social days of Madrid: a faith that animates the “city”

Testifying the values of the Kingdom of God in the “multicoloured mosaic” of contemporary Europe. With this major objective and commitment the Churches of the Old Continent promoted the second edition of the European Social Days, due to take place in Madrid September 18-21. The organization of the initiative has been entrusted to CCEE (Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe) and to COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community), with the support of Madrid’s diocese and of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. A great event to reflect on the theme: “Christian faith and the future of Europe”, which has been going through a long period of difficulties. The serious economic and job crisis hovering over Europe for years has shed light on a set of contradictions within European societies that call into question culture, widespread customs, moral values, interpersonal relations, demographic challenges (from population ageing to migration flows). Thus the Catholic Church, “expert in humanity” – which has not remained idle, and has been profusely committed to helping European populations -, intends to deepen the reflection on the ongoing crisis animated by evangelical zeal, by the love for the human person as a whole, and by a spirit of faith that is always present, grounded within Christian hope.  The challenge is to deepen our understanding of the present circumstances and propose new paths, projects of “rebuilding” the common good that is concretely possible, for the humanization of life guided by the Word and by the social teaching of the Church. It is not by chance that the works in Madrid (that have already collected an unexpectedly high number of adhesions) envisage plenary meetings, with distinguished speakers, along with several workshops to apply analyses and principles within daily human life. Panel lectures will focus on the centrality of the human person, social transformations, old and new economic models, the irreplaceable value of the family, while group meetings and workshops play a special role. In fact, the latter will address the themes of migration, young people and the future, cross-generational solidarity, freedom of education, demographic trends, human life and new technologies, in short: everyday life in any corner of Europe. Msgr Duarte da Cunha and Fr Patrick Daly, respectively CCEE and COMECE Secretaries General, in their presentation of the Days expressed the hope that “the results of our studies and of our reflection” in Madrid “may help us as Christians to have a greater awareness of the values on which a just and healthy society is built, and to commit ourselves to drawing up a Christian vision of a better world.” Msgr. Giampaolo Crepaldi, Archbishop of Trieste, president of the CCEE Commission “Caritas in Veritate”, pointed out: “During these days we would like to reawaken the responsibility each one of us has as relates to the social and charitable action of the Catholic Church in Europe, in response to the appeal made by Pope Francis, who calls upon the Church to ‘go forth and evangelize.’ Among the areas of evangelization the Holy Father includes also the economy, politics, culture and social life.”Thus it is not only a Church that prays, shares, extends her hands, and thinks. It is also a community of faithful that assume – following the teaching of the Second Vatican Council – their responsibilities in the world and in history, according to the principles set forth in “Gaudium et spes”: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.”For this reason the Social Days in Madrid are a promising opportunity so that Christian faith, ancient and always new, may once again help humanity look forward with solid hope.