Asked whether there may be one soul for Europe that might combine pluralism and common ideals, Tettamanzi admits he has no answers, "nor do I think any serious or responsible person may have any. But I have a feeling that things must be questioned through a serious, deeply prophetical, free and brave reflection". "Much of the rhetoric added the cardinal that now recurs on the building of Europe and its foundations is not alien to the risk of oversimplification. Such simplifications often pave the way, on one side, to collective selfishness and factious claims; on the other side, to shirking responsibility and being sceptical towards the unification of the continent". What is essential nowadays is "a virtuous pursuit of unity, on an intermediate or regional level" to face the two "opposing trends" of "globalisation and local interests". So that "everyone will feel responsible for the building of Europe", a "pluralist union that has no univocal identity, but that, because of its eventful history, keeps together a plurality of traditions and identities in a symphonic manner".
