杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis addressed European Union鈥檚 bishops and their new President, Archbishop Mariano Crociata, and asked them to never lose sight of the 鈥渢he two great dreams of Europe鈥檚 founding fathers: the dream of unity and the dream of peace.鈥�

Present for the audience on Thursday morning, were the Delegates of the Commission of the Bishops鈥� Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) who elected Crociata on Wednesday at the conclusion of their Spring Plenary Assembly. On the same occasion, four Vice-Presidents were also elected: Bishops Antoine Hérouard, Nuno Bras da Silva Martins, Rimantas Norvila and Czeslaw Kozon.

The 杏MAP导航 invited the EU bishops to continue keeping their eyes on a horizon defined by the inspiring values of the Europe project: unity and peace.

Unity in diversity

On the first point, the Holy Father said, it is clear that European unity 鈥渃annot be a uniform, homogenising unity,鈥漛ut one 鈥渢hat respects and values the singularities, the peculiarities of the peoples and cultures that make it up.鈥�

Recalling their different nationalities and cultures, he likened the richness of Europe to 鈥渢he convergence of different sources of thought and historical experience.鈥�

Europe, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渉as a future if it is truly a union,鈥� not just a synthesis of countries with their respective characteristics.

The challenge, he added, is unity in diversity. And is possible if there is a strong inspiration that goes beyond a technocratic paradigm and is capable of enthusing people and attracting new generations in the building of a common project.

Reflecting on how much has changed since the founding of the European Union, the 杏MAP导航 said the Church has the responsibility to 鈥渢rain people who, reading the signs of the times, know how to interpret the European project in today's history.鈥�

COMECE delegattes at audience with 杏MAP导航 Francis

Cohesive commitment to peace

Regarding the dream of peace, the 杏MAP导航 said 鈥淭oday's history needs men and women animated by the dream of a united Europe in the service of peace.鈥�

He recalled how after WWII the continent experienced the longest period of peace in its history. He decried the many wars that followed in different parts of the world, some of them 鈥渄ragging on for years,鈥� until now 鈥渙ne can now speak of a third world war.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 noted that neighbouring nations have done their utmost to welcome the refugees and upheld the fact that all European peoples participate in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

鈥淭his choral response on the level of charity should be matched - but it is clear that this is neither easy nor obvious - by a cohesive commitment to peace,鈥� he said.

Acknowledging the complexity of this that derives from the fact that the different countries of the European Union 鈥渁re involved in multiple alliances, interests, strategies, a range of forces that are difficult to bring together into a single project,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said there is one principle should be shared by all with clarity and determination: 鈥渨ar cannot and must no longer be considered as a solution to conflicts.鈥�

鈥淚f the countries of today's Europe do not share this ethical-political principle, then it means they have strayed from the original dream. If, on the other hand, they do share it, they must commit themselves to implementing it, with all the effort and complexity that the historical situation requires,鈥� he said.

A bridge between the Churches and the institutions

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded reminding those present of their responsibility to be 鈥渁 bridge between the Churches in Europe and the institutions of the Union.鈥�

鈥淵ou are by mission builders of relations, of encounter, of dialogue. And this is already working for peace. But it is not enough,鈥� he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis and the newly elected President and Vice-Presidents of COMECE