The great visions

“The purpose of this event is to reflect on how to continue to build Europe together and pray for unity and peace in Europe and in the world” the statement of the French dioceses of Metz and Verdun opened the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (May 9 1950) which occasioned Community integration. The two dioceses along with COMECE (the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community), religious institutions, associations and Catholic media have developed a programme that will take place in the two cities, with moments of prayer, Masses and conferences. The event lies within the framework of the initiative titled “Le neuf en Europe” (www.9mai2010.eu). Official celebrations have also been organised by EU institutions (7-9 May, www.europa.eu) in the cities where they are seated, namely, Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg. The varied and rich program includes a panel debate with 800 young people from across Europe in Strasbourg. A new way of living together. “It was necessary to have great visions, it was necessary to be able to take decisions and pave the road of reconciliation after the many tragic conflicts in Europe. It was necessary to silence weapons and mostly, it was necessary to establish a new form of coexistence”. Robert Schuman has succeeded to carry out this endeavour. With these words Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, recalled the figure of the great statesman in his homily for the Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of Metz. “Our celebration – added the president of the French Bishops’ Conference – is not just a deed of commemoration, but the chance to understand how the Christian faith led Robert Schuman to become a man of great political visions, the prophet of a possible construction, a witness of God’s rooting in the heart of human living”. Looking at the current situation of Europe, and thinking about Schuman, continued Card. Vingt-Trois, “we feel not to have understood” his work, and to run the “risk of lacking foresight”. Once again, Europe is called to progress “in agreement, collaboration, and communion; not in competition or conflict”. Political thought and actions should “overcome particular interests, for the common good”. Cherishing hope. In a message to participants, Benedict XVI highlighted “the Christian roots” as the pivotal resource leading to fairness in Europe; in solidarity with the “less fortunate” populations. Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest and CCEE President (Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe) said in his welcoming address: “Celebrating an anniversary means recalling the past, celebrating the present, and preparing the future. The features of the festivities marked by Christian faith are the presence of reconciliation of memories, opening to the gratuitous love of God and redeeming hope”. The fraternity principle. “Daring vision” and “realism” are the elements present in the project of Robert Schuman, said Msgr. Aldo Giordano, permanent representative of the Holy See at the Council of Europe. Starting from the “fundamental concern for peace”, Schuman drew up a plan based on the intuition that it was necessary “to create real solidarity” between the States just after the World War which had to be expressed with “kinship” and respect for the “diversities” making up Europe. “For this reason, a real dialogue must include unity and distinction, or rather, it should carry out a unity in which diversities are enhanced”. Msgr. Giordano Then, Msgr. Giordano depicted a few current cases in which integration is challenged, such as East -West reunification after 1989; the situation in the Balkans; “new challenges that lie ahead, such as the financial crisis, terrorism and the respect for the environment”; the role of the EU in the world, paying special attention to Africa, as Schuman himself had indicated at the time.The way of ecumenism. The archdeacon of the Anglican Church of France Kenneth Letts was also present for the celebrations. “Ecumenism teaches us to look for elements of unity, not for elements of division. The feature of the dialogue between Christian Churches has been useful for Europe, too”, he said. “The teachings coming from the method of ecumenism – recalled Venerable Letts – are four: discovering the common source of Christian faith, looking at other Christians not as though they were distant people, pardoning offences, knowing other people’s way of life”. These four paths, continued Fr. Letts, “can also be seen, though in a different way, in Schuman’s political action and thought. In conceiving the European community, he did not intend for diversities to be absorbed. Rather, he wanted diversities to live together”.