” “"The French and Dutch rejection of the Constitution and, on a more general level, the European Union going through a difficult phase, point out that adequate debate has been missing. Therefore, the widespread belief in both the European identity and the integration path has also been missing". During his speech at the meeting promoted by the European bishops, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, former Polish Prime Minister, insisted on the "need to look to the future", and "to review the Preamble of the Constitution", mentioning the Christian roots of the Continent, together with other elements of the historical and cultural heritage. "What we need today he added, is a real creative tension in the current plural Europe, making the peoples and the States meet to respond to today’s challenges". During the meeting, the vice presidents, Msgr. Adrianus Van Luyn (Low Countries) and Msgr. Hippolyte Simon (France), thanked the president, Josef Homeyer (Germany), leaving the presidency of Comece After 13 years. "We thank our brother Josef for his passion and competence, which he used in his serving both the Church and Europe – said Van Luyn; – and we are sure he will still go on offering Comece his precious help". The bishops met in an assembly lasting three days. And today, the assembly will appoint the new president, whose name will be made known tomorrow afternoon. The agenda includes "the strengthening of the intercultural and interreligious dialogue", and the drawing up of a document about the future of the European Union, to be published on 9 May (Europe Day).” “
