The greatest asset

With an interview with Mgr. Gianni Ambrosio, Bishop of Piacenza-Bobbio and representative of the Italian Church in Comece, SIR Europe is continuing its special feature dedicated to the reflections of European bishops on the process of European integration and on the Church’s thought on the European common home (cfr SIR Europe 62-63-64/2011).Mons. Ambrosio, what is the value of the European edifice in the age of globalization ? “United Europe was born as a project of great Catholic politicians like Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi, Konrad Adenauer. We should not forget that many opposed this project: now this dream has come true. If major results have been reached, it is also true that the European project cannot be fulfilled all at once, but must be concretely achieved through true solidarity. Europe is still fragile right now, as the difficulties to achieve a common vision on real problems affecting all Europeans proves. We cannot think that past success stories provide the ability to single-handedly rise up to major challenges. We should always refer back to our founding fathers’ great project, in order to make the European Union more united and influential in the global scenario. In this respect, the EU is quite a significant example”. What does the Church expect from this “common European edifice”?“Perhaps many people used to think – and still do – that the Church, with the Popes’ teachings, was asking Europe to simply look towards the past, for example in referring to its Chrisitan roots. For some European élites, a united Europe can and must give up this “old stuff”, because Europe should be new and projected into the future. But, since it wants to look towards the future, Europe cannot deny its origins, its identity. The memory of the past is decisive, in order to have a driving ideal to plan the present and future time. If a community of values – which is what the European project is about – neglects its founding values, it risks apostasy from her own self first, and then from God: this is the wise and troubled warning that Benedict XVI addressed to Europe. Let us not forget that what seems to belong to the distant past, is actually contemporary Europe’s greatest asset. Christianity is not only a reality that is written in the stones of many cathedrals and buildings, as well as in so many pages of art and literature: it is also written in the heart of many Europeans. We hope that Europe’s political leaders, helped by cultivated men and women, will be farsighted and congnizant of Europe’s ideal unity and historical task, as the founders of united Europe have been”. Do you believe there is a need for greater information on European politics, culture and ecclesial life?“Whether right or wrong, Europe’s prevailing image is that of an economic and trading giant, that is not always able to express an effective and intelligible political will, and is rather awkward in its action due to its gigantic bureaucratic apparatus. This image is reflected in EU citizens’ opinions on the EU and its action. A clear and widespread awareness of the values the EU has contributed in claiming and achieving is often missing. Many young people have no recollection of the events that led to European unification. The image of a bureaucratic giant, and the lost memory of the values that gave rise to the European project, weaken Europe’s identity amongst its citizens. And European citizenship has not given rise to strong identification processes. However, we must also say that the European Union generates huge expectations. For example, university students and job-seekers are asking for ‘more Europe’. But what we see happening in universities, can be also seen elsewhere. Considering this demand for more Europe, the lack of information on the European Union, its policies and decision-making processes is remarkable. This cannot be tolerated, if we also consider the increasing impact the EU has on its citizens’ lives. Therefore, we are asking for more information. And, mostly, for good quality information, in order to achieve a real development of the EU, faithful to its history and to the great values of its founding fathers. In this respect, SIR Europe’s information is extremely valuable”.