"We are sick of ideologies, neither is a Christianity reduced to an ideology enough. We need a life overflowing with faith and love in this Europe that has few visions for the future": it was said today by Andrea Riccardi, founder of Comunità di Sant’Egidio, as he spoke at the plenary session of the third European Ecumenical Assembly which is in progress in Sibiu (Romania) until September 9th. "The Christians of Europe over these days have a great opportunity to look together at our continent in the world, if they feel this assembly is not just a ritual fact", began Riccardi, criticising "the nationalistic passions that make one blind to reality". "It is an anti-historical position", he specified, since "the majority of the small or medium-size European countries cannot face, alone, the big challenges of the world, the confrontation with the economies and the civilisations of the big Asian countries, such as China and India". "Europe cannot become a sheltered island, like a fortress", he warned, because "it is not by spotting enemies on the horizon that one finds the courage to be oneself, an often-easy choice in which Christianity can be hoisted as a banner against any enemy". (continued)
