Fifty years after those words by Montini, commented card. Nicora, "while the institutional integration has made undoubted, fruitful steps forward, of which we must be aware and proud, it is just spiritual unity, always invoked by the Popes since the time of Pius XII, that is the most endangered dimension, to the point that we doubt, as Benedict XVI was warning us yesterday (at the audience with the participants in the Congress, editor’s note) whether Europe is going through a unique form of apostasy from itself and from its own genuine identity". Yet, "once again, a new, hopeful word came to us from Peter’s Chair: the Pope invited us not to lose heart about the building of a new Europe, realistic but not cynical, full of ideals, inspired by the perennial truth of the Gospel". "Along with the trophy of the Apostle Peter, whose blood was a seed of freedom, a stimulus to the testimony and mission, taking inspiration from his Chair that continues through the centuries to proclaim the truth of God and man, the firm track of our walk concluded card. Nicora , we can well renew the spiritual, cultural, social and, in its loftiest sense, political commitment to build a true European common house, open to the whole world".
