“Rebuilding hope”

Indeed, today Europe can become a banner of hope and tool for a better tomorrow, based on the coexistence of peoples, on the respect of the life of every human person, capable of creating opportunities for young people without neglecting weaker brackets that risk social marginalization; a Europe that will serve as “a point of reference” for other continents in the global wea. The reflections of the secretaries of national Bishops’ Conferences broach several aspects of contemporary societies, highlighting diverse situations at national level, and identifying an unexpected “tension towards unity”. Strengthening a feeling of fraternity. “After the elections for the Parliament in Strasbourg, Europe is left with a feeling of expectation. There is widespread anticipation, the hope of receiving answers to citizens’ requests. But I think there is also the wish to know whether the Community project will be able to respond to the need for solidarity”, that has grown during the years of crisis, and if it will be able to respect the subsidiarity criteria”. Mons. Gearóid Dullea is the Secretary of the Irish Bishops’ Conference. He signalled to SIR Europe a quest for social justice that is becoming stronger as a result of the backlash of the crisis. A Europe of peoples and States “should place the poor, the young, the old and lonely people at the centre. We must give voice to all those who are not heard by the political realm”. He added: “A politics that is sensitive to human and moral values should be strengthened – Dullea pointed out – thereby reinforcing a feeling of fraternity”. Right and democracy. Mons. Ivo Tomasevic is the spokesperson and the Secretary of the bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina. His vision of Europe stems from a country that is direly marked by the conflict of the 1990s and that under many aspects perceives itself at the border of the continent. “We’re outside the EU and I must admit that we feel distant” from Brussels and from the integration process. “In our countries we still carry the consequences of the wave of violence that tore the region apart, we experience a deficit in justice and delays in the fruition of basic rights. We need to create a nation based on the Rule of the Law, on democracy, on human rights”, as stipulated in the charter of the Council of Europe, which Bosnia-Herzegovina adheres to, and in EU Treaties, which Zagreb hopes to reach out to in the near future. “During Communism rights remained on paper, now we would like to see that they have been implemented”, Tomasevic said, but “we should remove the obstacles” that still lie on our way. The Dayton agreements have not defined a path of full participation. “Maybe that’s why many of us look forward to EU adhesion”. Renouncing Mammon. Further reflections arrive from Russia. “I believe that our youths can look forward to a pacified and prosperous Europe, with no more conflicts. But in order to reach our goal it’s necessary that each one of us goes through an inner transformation for the development of a mentality based on solidarity and fraternity”. Father Igor Kovalevskiy is the Secretary of the Russian Bishops’ Conference. His first thoughts go to the tensions underway with neighbouring Ukraine and his words are loaded with concern: “We don’t know what will happen in our countries tomorrow – he said-. It’s a difficult situation. We shall continue with our prayers: for Russian authorities, for the Ukrainian ones, so they may solve current problems and provide new hope to peoples”. He thus reiterated his personal attitude: “Obtaining great results requires a deep conversion of consciences”, remarked Fr Kovalevskiy. There is often talk of a ‘de-sovietization’, overcoming old mentalities. It’s true, but we must equally renounce egoisms, the new Mammon that risks being the only god in which we believe”. Enhancing roots. “Peace and reconciliation should always be built day after day. They are a daily conquest, which persisting situations of violence and conflict in Europe are a reminder of. Just think of Ukraine or the Balkans…” Fr Olivier Ribadeau Dumas serves as General Secretary of the bishops of France. The terms ‘dialogue and peace’ are terms that recur in his vocabulary. “There are big differences between the East and the West of Europe”; but European institutions “can play a role of rapprochement, also on the plane of cohabitation. Europe needs to renew its unitary project”, enhancing “that part of truth which every people is the bearer of”. Father Ribadeau Dumas sees Europe “as a whole. It becomes evident, for example, when we observe the Christian presence, which is the fil rouge that binds together all European countries, in terms of their history and contemporariness”. “The responsibility of European policymakers also means to draw from these common roots in order to build a better future at the service of European citizens”.