A fresh page

“Restoring a soul to Europe: Mission and responsibility of the Churches”: that’s the theme of the European meeting of Christian culture, promoted – for the first time together – by the Pontifical Council of Culture and the Patriarchate of Moscow, with the support of the Foundation “Pro Oriente”. The meeting (Vienna, 3-5 May) – explains a press release put out by the Pontifical Council of Culture – is the “result of the visit of Cardinal Paul Poupard to His Holiness Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow, in November 2004”. On that occasion, continues the communiqué of the Pontifical Council – “the common concern among the Christians of Europe” was expressed “to respond to the current process of the Continent’s loss of identity, reflect on the Christian roots of Europe and vigorously propose a project for the future”. Experts from all over Europe, jointly chosen by the two organizations, are attending the meeting, co-chaired by Cardinal Poupard and by Metropolitan Kirill, head of the Department for Foreign Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow. THE POPE’S MESSAGE. “The Church, expert in humanity, does not cease to stress that only by fully turning to account the heritage of values transmitted by her forefathers, in respect for the various spiritual traditions that enrich her, can Europe write a fresh page in her history: only thus can she respect the dignity of man and outlaw for good all forms of abuse and violence against human rights”, says BENEDICT XVI in the message he sent to the European meeting of Christian culture. “On many occasions – says the message – the Pope has not failed to point out that the populations of the Continent are challenged, in our age, by emerging questions about the meaning of life, the value of freedom and the future itself of Europe. In this context he has constantly invited them to build their present and their future in the light of the ethical and moral values that have illuminated their history through the centuries, while at the same time taking to heart the negative experiences of the past”. May the European nations – this is the Pope’s hope – “rediscover in Christ their common vocation to the service of peace and genuine world progress!”. THE MESSAGE OF THE PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW. The Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias ALEXEI II is convinced that the Orthodox and Catholic Churches ought to join together in defending the Christian values in the modern world. He said so in a message sent to the European meeting of Christian culture. “It is my conviction – says the message – that our Churches, faithful to the apostolic tradition regarding the foundations of the Christian vision, ought to dedicate themselves together to defend the fundamental values of Christianity in our time”. According to Alexei II, Orthodox and Catholic believers “can give hope to the hearts of millions of people who are sincerely seeking the Kingdom of God and who are dissatisfied with the utilitarian ends proposed by the consumer society”. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church also expresses the conviction that “European civilization is founded on Christian values” and that this is an undisputed fact. That’s why – adds Alexei II – “people of faith must always remind their contemporaries that the real source of the noblest aspirations of Europe comes from the Christian message of love for God and love for mankind”. In this sense, “removing every ideal and value, however luminous, from their primary source, means losing their significance” and even runs the risk that these same values could be used against God’s design for humanity. THE TWO LUNGS OF THE CHURCH. “We have so much to share, and above all the same ideal that inspires the life of our Churches, the Gospel, the good news of the love of Christ, the good news for Europe today”. And it is this common heritage that has made possible the European meeting of Christian culture. “Together – i.e. the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Patriarchate of Moscow – said PAUL POUPARD – let us acknowledge the obstacles the better to be able to tackle them and the challenges the better to be able to overcome them. They are widespread moral relativism and scepticism, Europe without God and without soul, a cold Europe, imprisoned in a labyrinth of laws and solely bent on the pursuit of profit. Together we want to build a Europe of peace, founded on the pillars of truth, justice, charity and liberty”. But to achieve this, Europe must begin once again “to breathe with the two lungs of the Church of the Orient and of the West. Our Churches, Orthodox and Catholic, can work closely together”. The “appalling spiritual void” that is registered in Europe – said the cardinal – calls on the churches to “restore to Europe an awareness of her spiritual roots and her cultural identity, an indispensable condition for creating at the dawn of the third millennium a new and fully European culture that is authentically human and Christian”. In this, “our Churches have a great educational task”: that of proclaiming that “for us Christians, the Europe whose children we are is a moral person. And to construct it, we need to give her a spirit, an ideal, a soul”.