"I come from a country that has not ratified the European Constitution, and this is precisely why I believe in the contribution of the Churches to the integration process". This was stated by cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux and president of the French Bishops Conference, at the ecumenical meeting of Wittenberg, in the run-up to the Third European Ecumenical Assembly due to take place in Sibiu (Romania) next September. "Today we witness said the cardinal many claims for identity. But we have to understand how we should give ourselves such identity, whether it should be inspired by withdrawal or dialogue. I think we have to try to re-propose to Europe our experience of reconciliation of the Churches". Tonight at the Stadtkirche of Wittenberg, the delegates will meet the president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Köhler. Tomorrow, the meeting will focus on the relations between the Churches and today’s Europe and the preparations for the AEE3.
