Men and religions" "
The "New Europe" as a place that welcomes "different peoples", with respect for individual identity. A subject discussed at Palermo by representatives from all religions ” “
A pluralist Europe, ready to listen to smaller countries and minorities, capable of becoming a “common home” for peoples of different cultures, ethnic backgrounds and religions. It is in the challenge of coexistence and peace that Europe will decide her future. These ideas were reiterated by the European representatives of Christian Churches (Catholics, Romanian and Russian Orthodox, Lutherans and Anglicans) in a round-table meeting on the theme: “A European soul, Christians encounter one another”. The gathering took place in Palermo on 1 September as part of the international meeting “Men and Religions” organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio on the theme: “Religion and cultures, between conflict and dialogue”. Europe, a home for all peoples. The tragedy of Dachau and Auschwitz, the horrors of the Gulags: this is the point that can be reached by people’s inability to live with their differences. Europe today must demonstrate that it is possible to follow a different path. Giving Europe a soul as Msgr. Aldo Giordano, secretary general of the CCEE (Council of European Episcopal Conferences) has observed means “building a home that can welcome different peoples without annihilating individual identities with totalising systems, nor sinking into destructive conflict between differences”. The Churches indicate the path of the Gospel, the path of love. Love added Msgr. Giordano “brought by Christ to earth” where “to live means to make a total gift of self to others. When our identities, our differences and our talents become a gift, and are reciprocally exchanged, then paths of reconciliation open up in all fields, from the ecumenical to the political”. The voice of minorities. The question of a “multi-polar and multi-systematic” Europe was especially raised by Vsevolod Chaplin, vice-president of the department for external relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. He said: “It seems to some people, myself included, that hiding behind the pluralist slogans are the outlines of new dangers such as forced uniformity, alienation and division”. “Globalisation”, observed Chaplain, “has become a one-way street. Ideas, goods, services and cultural clichés move mostly from West to East and from North to South. The opposite process is hindered, despite all the talk about free markets, sharing and openness”. “What can be done?”. “I believe”, said the representative of the Russian Church, “that there is only one way, and that is to allow not only individuals but also nations and societies to develop freely and without uniformity”. The Primate of the Lutheran Church of Finland, Jukka Paarma. also asked Europe to listen “to the voice of small countries and minorities”. “We have need”, he said, “of greater respect for our values and our cultural differences. The diversity of languages, cultures and religions is essential for the foundation of Europe”. Europe, a place of meeting. A more optimistic view was expressed by Msgr. Manuel Clemente, Catholic bishop and auxiliary of Lisbon. He contemplates the “constant internal migrations of the European peoples” with particular interest. They “bring Christians of different traditions together” and, in many countries of the continent, generate initiatives for welcoming and accompanying foreigners; initiatives which “represent true cultural workshops, expanding the European soul towards communion and peace”. “Europe today”, concluded Msgr. Clemente, “is the area of densest meetings between peoples and cultural traditions. Her soul, despite everything, is defined by this type of relations”.
