Words of hope

“Danke, danke, danke”: thanks were thrice repeated by Bishop JOSEF HOMEYER in gratitude for his thirteen years at the helm of COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community), to which he gave “a strong cultural impulse and increased effectiveness” at the European level. The German bishop leaves his post as President: the choice of his successor was on the order of the day of the plenary assembly held in Brussels from 22 to 24 March. CULTURE AND FRONTIERS OF EUROPE. A debate in honour of Msgr. Homeyer on the future of continental integration was held at a conference on the future of Europe on Wednesday 22 March. TADEUSZ MAZOWIECKI , Polish prime minister after the fall of the Communist regime, with a background in the Catholic association movement and in Solidarnosc, gave a report on “Europe and its nations: the significance of the Churches for a European identity”. The veteran leader sent out a strong pro-European message, though without excluding the need to preserve national identities. “Europe is far more than a geographic concept – he declared -; it is a history, a civilization. And it is European culture that marks the frontiers of the continent”. “Europe has multiple roots – explained Mazowiecki -: Greek thought, Christianity, the Enlightenment and, for a certain part of its history, Islam. But there are also wars and persecutions in our history”. After the tragedy of the Second World War, “the continent tackled the reconstruction in a climate of cold war. The action of Robert Schuman and the founding fathers has its roots in that phase: they aspired to a peaceful and united Europe. But we had to wait until 1989 for the unification of East with West and for the Maastricht Treaty (1992) to reinforce the will to build a political Europe. Now, it’s difficult to involve citizens in a real democratic process, but we need to do so to give a solid foundation to the European Community”. And the Churches “can rediscover an essential role in creating dialogue, mutual understanding, cultural foundations and basic values for the future Europe”. “The French and Dutch rejection of the Constitution and, more generally, the difficult phase the EU is going through – he added – show that a proper debate and hence widespread conviction of the European identity were lacking”. According to Mazowiecki, “what’s needed in this pluralist Europe today is a real creative ferment”. BIOETHICS, PEACE, SOCIAL JUSTICE. “Europe is called to tackle ever new scenarios. That’s why it must examine the questions linked to its roots, its common objectives, and the contribution cultures can make to the promotion of unity. Are religions – we may ask – a resource or a threat in this phase of the history of Europe?”. Monsignor MICHAEL FITZGERALD , apostolic nuncio in Egypt, former President of the Pontifical Council for inter-religious dialogue, brought his testimony to the conference promoted by COMECE, with an address on “Europe, politics and interfaith dialogue”. Citing the parable of the Good Samaritan, Fitzgerald maintained that “we can’t wait for the others to approach us. We must act ourselves, go out to meet others, become neighbours, and establish constructive relations”. In this sense “the role of believers is essential, as also is religious freedom, which must be safeguarded for everyone. In this way it would be confirmed that faith is not a private matter, but a social phenomenon of public value. Believers have the duty to be vigilant and make positive contributions to society and politics”. “Europe has an enormous need for them – added the bishop -. There are so many frontiers in which ideas and values are needed: research and technology, for example, are opening new scenarios for bioethics; wars and violence ask for testimonies of peace; poverty, in Europe and in the world, calls for the duty of social justice”. A STATEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE. During the conference, Vice-Presidents, Msgr. ADRIANUS VAN LUYN (Holland) and Msgr. HIPPOLYTE SIMON (France), thanked the outgoing COMECE President, recalling “the passion and skill with which he placed himself at the service of the Church and Europe”; “we are sure he will wish to continue making his valuable contribution to COMECE”. General secretary NOEL TREANOR , declared: “During this whole period we learned from Bishop Homeyer how to combine mysticism with action”. In his address, the German bishop stressed that “this Europe has a great need today for messages of hope from the believers of the various faiths”. The bishops of EU member states, meeting in plenary session to elect their new President, also drafted a statement, to be published on 9 May (Europe Day): part of their contribution to the period of reflection on the future of the EU.