The bishops and the new Europe

The book “The Bishops and the New Europe”, containing the official texts of the CCEE (1992-2006) and published by the Fresh publisher du Cerf, was presented at the Institut Catholique in Paris on Thursday 21 January. The texts were collected and edited by Sarah Numico, former staff member of the CCEE Secretariat. The book is introduced by Monsignor Aldo Giordano, former General Secretary of the CCEE from 1995 to 2008, and by Giorgio Feliciani, professor of canon law at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.A vital presence in the continent. The Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE), an exemplary spinoff of Vatican Council II, is now in its phase of maturity (it will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2011). Its structures and its regulations have now reached organic development and stability; its life and its role have achieved a definite place in Europe. At the same time, the CCEE never ceases to interrogate itself on its task and its fidelity to its own original vocation, that of being an organ of episcopal collegiality, at the service of the proclamation of the Gospel in Europe. This reflection occurs during the Council’s meetings, at synods, in informal exchanges between fellow bishops, and now through the pages of this book that brings together the fruits of fifteen years collective work of the European episcopates. Continuing publication. A previous volume, “The bishops of Europe and the new evangelization”, with texts in Italian, French and German, was published in October 1991; it contained the most significant documents to illustrate and trace the life and the process of reflection of the CCEE in its first twenty years. Now a second series of documents and contributions in French has appeared to continue to recount the history of the Council. “Of course the life and liveliness of an organization like the CCEE is difficult to reduce to a volume of documents, however voluminous and complete”, writes Sarah Numico in her foreword. “What makes the Council so rich is the network of relations that it helps to create and maintain between the bishops and the directors of the various pastoral sectors of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the European continent. However, from these pages, which contain a selection and not a complete collection of the documents issued over the last fifteen years, it is possible to grasp some basic features of the development of the CCEE”.A many-sided volume. The two introductions written respectively by Mgr. Aldo Giordano and Giorgio Feliciani wish to offer in summary form a presentation of the life and history of the Council, highlighting the peculiarities and main fields of activity of this episcopal organization with reference both to the European context and to the life of the universal Catholic Church. The book opens with the texts of John Paul II referring to the CCEE as a way of paying tribute to this Pope who contributed so much to the life of our continent. Already as Cardinal of Krakow he participated in the symposia of the CCEE and then as Pope promoted the development and reform of the Council itself. This close relation of collaboration and fidelity continues with Benedict XVI and with the various offices of the Apostolic See. This is followed by seven chapters devoted to seven macro-spheres of work: the plenary assembly, composed of the presidents of the member Conferences, which decides on basic policy lines for the reflection and activities of the Council and which elects its officeholders; the symposia, eleven in all, four between 1993 and the present day; some particularly “urgent” pastoral fields (catechesis, vocations, university apostolate, mass media, social ministry, safeguard of the creation and migrations); ecumenical commitment, expressed primarily through cooperation with the Conference of European Churches (CEC); dialogues with the other religions (Islam, Buddhism and alternative religions); and lastly the chapter dedicated to the “new Europe”: for our continent the years covered by this volume have been the theatre of momentous and sometimes tragic events (ethnic wars in the former Yugoslavia and in the Balkans), profound geo-political changes (disintegration of the Soviet bloc), and progress towards the construction of the European Union.Constant concern for evangelization. “The connecting thread that guides the life of the CCEE is that of evangelization, in other words serving the meeting between Jesus Christ and European man today. Aware that communion is the first prerequisite for bearing witness to the Gospel, the CCEE especially creates continental forums and networks where the questions of contemporary Europe can be heard and expressed and where contributions and responses in the light of the Christian revelation can be sought”, writes Mgr. Giordano. “The CCEE, at the time of its foundation, expressed an idea of Europe that politically could not even be dreamt of: a Europe stretching beyond the wall and the Iron Curtain. Now we have new historical and cultural challenges that impel the CCEE to intensify its service of evangelization and contribute in a new way to the further development of the unity of Europe and of the world”. Feliciani writes: “The activities of the CCEE deserve to be followed with particular attention, for it is the only canonical institution of a hierarchical nature that regards the continent in its entirely, from the Atlantic to the Urals”.