The Two Appeals

Two passages from the address of Pope Benedict XVI to the Diplomatic corps on January 7 are closely related to the path leading to European integration. He first focused his gaze on the problematic situations of Kosovo and Cyprus, marked by long-standing expectations of political stability capable of ensuring peaceful co-existence. In the first case, the Pope pointed to the need for a formula that will “take into account the legitimate claims of the parties involved”, that is, Serbia and Kosovo, “and will guarantee security and respect for the inhabitants of this land, so that the spectre of violence will be definitively removed and European stability strengthened.” Equal attention was shown for the other open wound: the Mediterranean island divided in two by Cypriots and Turks. To this regard, the Pope expressed “the wish that, in the context of the European Union no effort will be spared in the search for the solution to a crisis that has already lasted too long”. These are two emblematic cases which show that still today, even in the European region we witness divisions and latent perils, at the same time confirming that in the Balkans and in the Mediterranean a major world match is being played with two possible outcomes: permanent conflict, nationalisms, weapons and sufferings of peoples; or pacification, respect for international law, cooperation and development. The Pontiff’s second major appeal more explicitly refers to the institutional asset of the EU. The Pope assured that he is “following attentively the new phase which began with the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon”, a step which he believes “gives a boost to the process of building the European home, which will be a good place to live for everyone only if it is built on a solid cultural and moral foundation of common values drawn from our history and traditions” and “if it does not deny our Christian roots”. Benedict XVI is well aware that the new Treaty (as has previously happened for the EU Constitution) doesn’t mention the “Christian roots” of the Old Continent; however the Pope does underline the “essential” contribution that the Catholic Church “is able and willing to give to European unification”. The Pope once again reaffirmed that in order to build a Europe marked by peace, cohesion, respectful of rights, open to the world, it is necessary that both its political institutions and its peoples do not neglect the patrimony of identities impressed in Europe’s history and capable of guiding it towards the future.