"Portugal’s universal bent is an asset and a spur that this country brings into Europe. Portugal, Europe’s westernmost country, is like a face turned to the world, it asks our continent to look beyond the borders and be everywhere the witness and builder of peace and justice". These are the words of the Patriarch of Lisbon, card. José da Cruz Policarpo, as he welcomed to the Portuguese capital, today, the presidents of the European Bishops Conferences gathered for the yearly Ccee meeting that will end in Fatima on 7th October. "In this very Europe highlighted card. Jean Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux and deputy president of Ccee , Christians have found, in the recent ecumenical assembly of Sibiu, an opportunity to think again about their commitment, especially to social issues and to the universal common good. Difficulties are not missing and are well known, but awareness that Europe increasingly needs the unity of Christians is also growing". Expectations are high even beyond the borders and for this reason, added card. Josip Bozaniæ, archbishop of Zagreb and deputy president of Ccee, "Christians must join forces for an open Europe that will have more impact on all issues that concern human rights and man’s dignity. Starting from Africa, to which Ccee will devote a meeting in Ghana this year plus other events from here to 2010".
