A faith for the common home

May Europe be "reconciled with herself, without rejecting or ignoring its past, nor the fullness of its present, nor the vital forces indicating the path leading to our future", augured cardinal Péter Erdõ, archbishop of Eztergom-Budapest, president of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, in the homily for the Mass for Europe celebrated in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome. The Mass was celebrated on May 9, Day for Europe, "to entrust, at this particular time in history, Europe to its great patron Saints". In these days, from May 7-10, some 70 bishops and directors of national offices and bodies responsible for catechesis within the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe convened in Rome to attend the XII Congress for Catechesis.The value of the human person. Speaking to journalists during a press conference card. Erdõ spoke of the difficult European situation, recently shattered period by waves of nationalism, and in some cases by the violation of human rights. "It is a crisis of civilization that fails to give priority to the human person. The economy is exposed to the same risk. The various expressions of violence, racism and violation of human rights are offensive to the human person". The European episcopate has at heart such situations "addressed by European bishops, more often in the framework of plenary assemblies". In fact, during the last assembly in Zagreb, the bishops tackled the problem of the demographic situation in Europe and Saint Gallen (Switzerland), in September, the president of the European Bishops’ Conferences said the crisis in Europe "isn’t only economic and financial. It is also a crisis in values". The value of faith. For this reason, delving into the roots of the problems, the bishops indicate as a response to European challenges the way of a more "aware and lived faith". It was underlined by cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, CCEE vice-president, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. "In order to bring more documented and concrete contributions to the complex situation" in Europe "an ever more profound study of the social doctrine of the Church, the repository of Church Magisterium regarding social questions, is needed". He added: "Given ongoing complex problems, that include new problems perceivable on the horizon – added Cardinal Bagnasco – the primary, urgent and most important response is a more aware and lived faith". The value of Catechism. The bishops thus underlined the bond between Christians’ presence in Europe and two major events that will characterize the life of the Church this year: the Bishops’ Synod on the new evangelization and the Year of the Faith, called by Benedict XVI. What lies ahead for a "happy intuition of the Pope" is thus "a year dedicated to a reconsideration of faith – added Cardinal Bagnasco – in the joy, and in the awareness, in the courage of the witness, from a perspective of service to faithfulness to God and faithfulness to man". In this reflection on faith a special place is devoted to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which this year celebrates the 20th anniversary after 50 years since the opening of the Second Vatican Council. "Catechism – said Msgr. Józef Michalik, archbishop of Przemyœl, CCEE vice-president – symbolizes the spirit of the Second Vatican Council". Translated today in all its European languages, the catechism is "a not easy-reading document". To this regard the polish bishop underlined what Benedict XVI wrote to the youth in his preface to "Youcat": "This Catechism was not written to please you. It will not make life easy for you, because it demands of you a new life. It places before you the Gospel message as the ‘pearl of great value”".The value of the web. On May 9, the day on which is celebrated the Day for Europe, CCEE officially presented www.eurocathinfo.it, the new informative portal of the bishops’ conferences in Europe. This new e-platform is the result of four years of work. In the website – that will be coordinated by two young women, Sara María de la Torre Hernández from Spain and Marin Oberan from Bosnia Erzegovina – all the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe can post their press releases, which will be automatically translated in other languages. For further information, the phone number of the press officer is to be found at the bottom of the page. "It’s a necessary tool for better understanding and to boost communication between Catholics in Europe. It’s the fruit of the communion of bishops with European Bishops’ Conferences and it is to be understood as a door towards the life of the Church at national level and towards Jesus Christ, since these news items testify to the richness of the Catholic Church in the continent".