CARD. VINGT-TROIS, “PROPHET OF A POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION”
“It was necessary to have great visions; it was necessary to be able to decide and pave the way to reconciliation after so many tragic conflicts in Europe. It was necessary to check weapons, but it was also necessary to start a new way of living together”. Robert Schuman managed to do that, stated Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris, yesterday, during the homily of the Mass at the cathedral of Metz, on the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950). “Our celebration – added the president of the French Bishops’ Conference – is not just a deed of commemoration, but the chance to understand how the Christian faith led Robert Schuman to become a man of great political visions, the prophet of a possible construction, a witness of God’s rooting in the heart of human living”. This heritage, added the cardinal, invites us “to encourage witnesses of the same level, men and women who are capable of translating their great visions and great works into reality today, too”. The path of Schuman is to be followed, stated Card. Vingt-Trois, because “it is part of Christian roots, which are not a museum of ideologies, but the visible experience of an invisible project: they are a living hope”. Looking at the current situation of Europe, and thinking about Schuman, went on Card. Vingt-Trois, “we feel not to have understood” his work, and to run the “risk of lacking foresight”. Today, there are no more wars, he stated, there is “economic and technological supremacy” questioning “our being creators of justice and peace”. The response, recalled the president of the French Bishops’ Conference, will only be supplied by “Europe growing in agreement, collaboration, and communion; not in competition or conflict”. Finally, pointed out Card. Vingt-Trois, something else is necessary: political thought and actions should lead to “surpass particular interests, to reach the common interest”. Above all, this will happen if one conviction spreads and gets stronger: “the human being is asked to enter into an alliance with God, an alliance enabling him to overcome limits, barriers, particularism, cultural and historical blocks”. Benedict XVI, too, in his message to the meeting, recalled “Christian roots” as inevitable response for fair Europe, sympathising with “more unlucky” peoples. The same reflection was made by Card. Peter Erdo, archbishop of Budapest and president of CCEE (Council of European Bishops’ Conferences).
CARD. TAURAN, “CLEAR RELATIONS BETWEEN CHURCHES AND THE EU”
Europe and Christianity “share one destiny and one mission”; in the process of integration, “it is necessary to point out the common values” present in the Continent, respecting “cultural and religious diversities”, at the same time. Those diversities can foster the construction of the EU. In particular, while speaking at the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, Cardinal Jean-Louis Turan, president of the Papal Council for Interreligious Dialogue, concentrated on the meaning of article 17 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which defines relations between the European Union and Churches. The political community and the religious communities, stated the Cardinal, “are asked to collaborate, operating for the good of all citizens”. Card. Tauran pointed out “Christian roots marking the history of our Continent”, and the “meaningful presence of the Catholic Church” beside the other expressions of Christianity and other religions. “Article 17 – he stated – regulates relations between the EU and Churches”, and also emphasizes “the constant, open and clear contributions” which can be paid by religions to Europe, “united in diversities”.
BARROT (FRANCE), “FIGHT AGAINST NATIONALISM”
“Today we must fight against egoism, materialism, nationalism and populism, which are becoming part of the European scenario. It is the only way to make the European community become a strong and long-lasting construction”. On speaking at the three-day meeting in Metz and Verdun, Jacques Barrot, French politician and former EU commissioner, recovered the teaching “of the political life of Robert Schuman”; “the principle of solidarity” is the foundation of the Declaration of 9 May 1950. Barrot emphasized how that teaching “is still valid in the current scenario”, especially if “we think about the challenges before us, including the economic crisis, the management of migratory flows, and the commitment to poorer countries outside our Continent”. On the other hand, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, president of the Robert Schuman Foundation, stated that “in these sixty years, above all, we managed the heritage of the Declaration” which led to the creation of the Coal and Steel Community. “But are we up to this heritage?”, wondered Giuliani, pointing out the importance of “respecting it and modernise” its principles “amid the challenges of or time”, as “in the case of the current crisis in Greece”.
MSGR. GIORDANO (HOLY SEE), “SOLIDARITY AND DIVERSITY”
“Daring vision” and “realism” are the elements present in the project of Robert Schuman. During his speech for the celebrations taking place in France, Msgr. Aldo Giordano, permanent representative of the Holy See at the Council of Europe, made a few comparisons between the historical importance of the Declaration of 1950 and Third-Millennium Europe. Starting from the “fundamental concern for peace”, Schuman drew up a plan based on the intuition that it was necessary “to create real solidarity” between the States just after the World War. That solidarity should be expressed through “brotherhood” and respect for the “diversities” making up Europe. “For this reason, a real dialogue must include unity and distinction, or rather, it should carry out a unity in which diversities can increase their values”. Then, Msgr. Giordano depicted a few current cases in which integration is challenged, such as reunification of East and West after 1989 (Eastern peoples “question themselves about the themes of social justice” and “are afraid of Western secularization”); the situation in the Balkans; “new challenges to be faced, such as the financial crisis, terrorism, respect for environment”; the role of the EU in the world, paying special attention to Africa, as Schuman himself had indicated long ago.
LETTS (ANGLICANS), “ECUMENISM IS FOR EUROPEAN UNITY”
“Ecumenism teaches us to look for uniting things, not for dividing things: the method of dialogue between Christian Churches has been useful for Europe, too. Ecumenism is in favour of European unity”, said Msgr. Kenneth Letts yesterday, at the cathedral of Metz, France, at the end of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the “Schuman Declaration”. Msgr. Kenneth Letts is vicar general of the Anglican Church in France. “The teachings coming from the method of ecumenism – recalled Msgr. Letts – are four: discovering the common source of Christian faith, looking at other Christians not as though they were distant people, pardoning offences, knowing other people’s way of life”. According to the Anglican exponent, the four tracks “can also be seen, though in a different way, in the political action and thought of Schuman: in conceiving the European community, he never wanted to fuse diversities; he just wanted to make diversities live together”. In the path towards unity, “the most difficult choice – said Msgr. Letts – is pardon, which is not just the outcome of common sense but also of the will to get out of the prison of our passions to meet others”. And he added: “as a Christian, Robert Schuman translated the choice of pardon politically, by operating for a European community promoting peace and justice within itself and in the world”.