United for the good of Europe” “

“To the Germans and the Poles it shall never again be permitted to direct their own spiritual and material force against each other. Their duty, rather, is to devote themselves to the common good of all the peoples of an increasingly integrated Europe and to the reinforcement of her Christian identity”: the point is forcefully underlined by the Polish and German bishops, in a joint statement, issued on 21 September, on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the exchange of letters between the two episcopates in 1965. The statement is signed by Archbishop Józef Michalik, Metropolitan of Przemyœl and President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, and by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop of Mainz and President of the German Bishops’ Conference. The event 40 years ago is considered of great importance, since the words of the bishops at that time “We forgive and ask for forgiveness” had a strong influence on the reconciliation and pacification between the two countries after the Second World War. WE REMEMBER THAT COURAGIOUS ACT…“We remember that courageous act – write the Polish and German bishops in their statement – not only to pay it the respect it deserves. We also remember it because, as formerly our predecessors, we too today feel ourselves responsible for the process of entente, reconciliation and friendship between Germany and Poland”. The two Bishops’ Conferences say they are “concerned” by the fact “that the memory of the dark moments of our common history generates not only a spirit of reconciliation, but also leads to reopening the wounds that have not yet healed and restoring a spirit of vendetta and settling old scores”. In particular, they point out, “some representatives of the world of politics and public life continuously lacerate in an ill-considered way the still painful wounds of the past of our nations. Others openly or even cruelly try to exploit them for personal and political ends”. The anniversary of the exchange of letter thus provides an “occasion to oppose with all out strength this attitude that is so irresponsible for our mutual relations”. FROM TRUTH TO FORGIVENESS. “The gift of reconciliation can also become ours so long as we sincerely recognize the whole truth, repent of our guilt and obtain forgiveness”, recall the Polish and German bishops in their joint statement. “From this attitude – they continue – is born the willingness to look to our own history and to the present not only with own eyes, but also with the eyes of others”. And just as forty years ago the bishops, “conscious of the burden of the terrible scourge of war crimes, illegality and suffering, were able to break down the walls that still divided us in the period of the cold war, restore to us a vision of Europe progressing towards full unity”, and “bear witness to the fact that the Christian foundations cannot long remain dominated by injustice and oppression”, today too Poland and Germany, that now participate together in the process of European integration, must bear “eloquent witness to our conviction that war, hatred and violence cannot have the last word”. NEVER AGAIN HOSTILITY BETWEEN US. “We affirm with all our strength: to the Germans and the Poles it shall never again be permitted to direct their own spiritual and material force against each other”, says the bishops in their joint communiqué. “Their duty, rather, is to devote themselves to the common good of all the peoples of an increasingly integrated Europe and to the reinforcement of her Christian identity. This task shall only be fulfilled once the Germans and the Poles understand that there is also much good that unites them in their common history”. One striking example of this is the fact that we now have a German Pope after a Polish Pope. “These links ought to be especially fostered by the youth apostolate”, suggest the bishops, perhaps by launching “forms of cooperation” between the youth of the two countries. COMMON CHALLENGES. Among the common challenges the bishops point out “the defence of life, of marriage and of the family”, in the “field of bioethics, which is often corrupt and threatened by the selfish interests of research institutions and big business”. “For the good of future generations – they conclude – we must join together to shape the face of our continent in a Christian spirit, as a sphere of life that respects and ensures the inalienable dignity and true liberty of man. With our solicitude for the future of Europe, we wish to make our contribution to peacemaking in the world. To this is also linked the genuine commitment of Europe to fostering future contacts with the countries of the East and South”.