With a louder voice

“Cultivating our network and making our voice heard louder across society and within institutions, at national and European level”. This is precisely Christians’ responsibility: “to help Europe recover the significance of its evolution and the hope in the future” said Msgr. Aldo Giordano, Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the Council of Europe, in an interview by Giovanna Pasqualin Traversa for SIR Europe on the wake of the “Mass for Europe”, celebrated January 17 in Strasbourg’s cathedral. The event, promoted by the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Strasbourg, marked the opening of the plenary session of the EU Parliament of January 17-20, so that 2011 may begin “in a spirit of light and with God’s blessing”, added Msgr. Giordano. Over one thousand people working within European institutions attended the Mass, including ambassadors and officials of the Council of Europe, judges of the European Court of Human rights and representatives of the European Parliament and of the European Commission. The Mass was presided over by the archbishop of the Alsatian diocese Msgr. Jean-Pierre Grallet, the homily was delivered by Msgr. Giordano.Can the Mass of January 17th be described as the encounter of faith with the commitment for Europe? “Yes. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the church was packed with people attending this symbolic meeting. On one side stood European institutions represented in this frontier country, on the other the cathedral with its lofty spire, symbolizing ongoing history, projected towards the sky. In the Mass, God is truly present in public life in the most significant way through the Eucharist. The celebration in the cathedral was a way to draw the leadership of the European home closer to this presence. It also served to point out that prayer provides a fundamental contribution for the prosperity and the future of our continent. Indeed, the Mass was attended by Church members whose special sensitivity for European questions is renowned”.Who were they?“Firstly, the Benedictines of the cloister monastery of Rosheim, a town near Strasbourg, who regularly pray for Europe and for all those in her institutions. For the occasion they asked a special permission to go out. The Community of Jerusalem every week says a special prayer for Europe. In Strasbourg there is also an organism run by the Dominican fathers, “Decere”, committed in the reflection on European themes to the light of Church Magisterium. The Mass of January 17 was also the result of a network we are trying to set up. Our diplomatic work consists mostly in sparking off and consolidating relations amongst and with European officials, prompting the European institutions’ attention for the Christian community and the latter’s interest towards Europe”. Thus, the face of a living and present Church? “Yes, an aware and committed community, that is also a young community – the Mass was attended by groups of scouts, young people and children -, that deserves greater visibility, without focusing only on the problematic aspects which are dealt with at length by the media. After having experienced the season of the death of God, contemporary Europe wishes to overcome. Whether consciously or not, there is the need to undertake a new course, a new itinerary. And this requires a guiding light and the humbleness to seek God in the light that had been obscured, especially before major challenges that lie ahead, i.e. Europe’s presence and role on the international scenario given the emergence of new political economies like China and India, human rights, terrorism, religious freedom, poverty and world hunger along with environmental protection. These are major issues that are underlain by the most radical question regarding the meaning of life and man’s deepest desires, the question on truth, beauty, the yearning for a life that will not collapse in the abyss of death. The Gospel touches this profoundness of the human heart, which was conveyed with the Mass”.Which contribution can be given by faith to the specific activity of European officials? “As Christians we propose and defend a set of values rooted within human nature and enlightened through the Revelation namely, the dignity of the human person in every stage and condition of life, that is an all-embracing dignity, open and established in the relationship with God; freedom of religion; fraternity between individuals and peoples, rooted in the belief that we share the same Father. Our ‘added value’ is also Catholicism: we are a single population present in all corners of the world, thus a universal population which, as such, can speak to everyone”.It was asked that the upcoming CoE Parliamentary Assembly (January 24-28) hold an urgent debate on persecuted Christians in Iraq…“Already at the end of last year PACE executive Commission, gathered in Turkey, had addressed this problem. During that meeting the proposal of a report was launched, which is being currently drawn up by an ad hoc Committee. The document’s rapporteur will be appointed in view of the ensuing debate due to be held in June or at the end of summer 2011, which will produce a recommendation and a resolution. There appears to be a broad consensus on the request of an urgent debate to be held during the plenary, especially endorsed by the EPP Group, although it’s up to the Assembly to decide, next Monday, whether or not the issue should be put on the agenda. In the meantime, with our support, a group of Christian-inspired NGOs in Strasbourg are organizing a conference on this subject that will take place on January 25 at the Palais de l’Europe, extending the debate, to the light of recent events, to Egypt, Syria and other areas experiencing Christians’ persecution, along with a overarching reflection on religious freedom. Defending this freedom is to defend the highest dignity of the human person. CoE MEPs were also invited to take part in the meeting, while the number of participants, approximately one hundred according to our estimates, has already doubled and is bound to increase further, which is a positive sign of the new, increasing sensitivity and attention towards this phenomenon”. Art. 17 of the Treaty of Lisbon provides for an open, transparent and ongoing dialogue between the Churches and the EU… “A visible event such as the Eucharistic celebration of January 17 expresses a pre-existing reality. A Mass with over one thousand people cannot be improvised. This circumstance reveals a relationship and a dialogue between the Churches and the institutions which is already consolidated”. Conversely, citizens still feel distant from Brussels…“They do, but thanks to this dialogue, which overcomes widespread resignation, the Churches can do a lot to bring Europe closer to her citizens by informing, raising awareness and encouraging people’s participation on topical public issues. Relations, resolutions, recommendations and CoE conventions, along with Community legislative proposals, express, to a certain degree, also the level of citizens’ civil participation. If the interest of the public opinion is low, the risk is that low-quality documents and provisions will be released. Conversely, if the maturity level of a population, which we hope is conscious of Christian values, is high, this standard will almost automatically be reflected in legislative texts and resolutions”.So what is the role of the Church?“To act as a bridge between institutions and citizens and prompt the progress of civil conscience and participation at individual level. When citizens voice their claims at the CoE the results are visible. It’s a channel through which the real Europe is expressed. The Continent is not represented by officials or judges only. A major effort is needed so that European citizens can make their voices heard in all areas. Informing the public opinion through the media, sending letters to European institutions, promoting signature-collections are all tools pertaining to a democracy within everybody’s reach”.How do you value the production and distribution, on the part of the EU Commission, of 3 million school diaries across 21 thousand European schools, with a calendar of all religious holidays except for the Christian ones? “It’s unacceptable, as it is lacking even the slightest awareness of Europe. It is unconceivable from the cultural and religious angle. It appears to be aimed at erasing references to constitutive aspects of European identity and heritage. It’s not clear whether it’s the result of an unpleasant ‘bureaucratic accident’ or whether it is the deliberate attempt of ‘excluding’ Christian values. Indeed, there is reason for concern”.