A creative collaboration” “

The “Alois-Mock-Europaring” prize was awarded on 14 November. Established by the Reichsbund, the movement for Christian social policy and sport, the prize is awarded to European personalities or institutions that have distinguished themselves in fostering Europe’s spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social growth. The prize-giving ceremony was accompanied by a study day with the title “Christian social policy: a current challenge”, with an intervention by Msgr. Jan Graubner , president of the Czech Episcopal Conference, on the theme “Katholikentag for the Catholics of Central Europe 2003/2004: Meeting and dialogue”. We give a résumé of his address below. “Helping Europe to rediscover her own soul”. According to Msgr. Graubner, this is the aim of the Katholikentag for the Catholics of Central Europe (MEKT), introduced on the initiative of the archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, to which eight countries have given their support: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. “Only through the mutual knowledge of these nations, through cooperation and the construction of the spiritual dimension in international relations – said the president of the Czech bishops – can we help Europe to rediscover her own soul”. The programme of the Katholikentag is as follows: “on the day of its inauguration, a joint pastoral letter of all the eight bishops of these regions was read out in all the churches of the countries involved. In the course of the year, a Sunday is dedicated to each nation to enable the other countries to get to know it better and pray for it. Each country contributes to the common programme with one or more initiative with the participation of the others. The MEKT will culminate and conclude for everyone with an international pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuary at Mariazell (Austria) in May next year”. An occasion for dialogue. “I consider this creative collaboration – said Msgr. Graubner – an important occasion for dialogue in practice which will yield tangible fruits. Already today we are preparing for the pilgrimage to Mariazell. Participating in it will not only be the pilgrims with the representatives of the Church, but also the highest political authorities of the countries involved, invited by the Austrian President. Large numbers of young people will arrive by every means, even on foot and by bicycle. And our young in particular will have the chance to deepen their knowledge of each other and establish a series of contacts useful for constructing a future of dialogue and solidarity”. The role of Christians for Europe. Referring to the debate on the Constitution of the EU and the reference to the Christian roots of Europe, Msgr. Graubner observed: “so far we have failed to obtain a citation of the Christian roots of Europe where some 78% of the inhabitants currently profess themselves Christian. For European Christians, this sounds like an accusation of passivity and incapacity to spread their own faith in contemporary society. At the same time, however, it is a challenge to renew ourselves inside and to increase our commitment and collaboration. A divided Christianity is utterly unable to make an important contribution to Europe. I am convinced that the main role of Christians consists in bringing the gospel of hope to European society. If we should fail in this mission, any other contribution we make would be like the physician who in the case of an accident helps the police and the rescuers instead of giving direct assistance to the injured person. Christians in particular can open a new stage in European history. We could improve our society if we succeed in respecting the other countries as much as our own and accepting ideas different from our own. The activities of MEKT represent, in this sense, a fragment of the mosaic of the new European society”.