28 November 2020, 10h00 – 16h00

A Zoom conference on “Europe – an evolving family of peoples. Pope Francis’ vision of fraternity and social friendship”.

I am invited to present to you briefly the Letter of Pope Francis on Europe that was made public the 27^th October, just before the celebration of the Plenary Assembly of COMECE, though the date that appears on the letter is the 22^nd October, Memorial of Saint John Paul II. This is not a coincidence, because Pope John Paul II inspires this letter. The letter often quotes the words of Saint Paull I in the European Act celebrated in Santiago de Compostela in 1982: Europe, “find yourself, be yourself”.

Before looking at this message I want to speak of a concept that is present in many documents and speeches of Pope Francis and that will help us -I hope- to understand better his Letter on Europe. This concept is that of: 

DREAM

• This concept is related to what is said in the title of this webinar: “Pope ‘s Francis vision of fraternity and social friendship.

• It is a concept that speaks to us of future, of prophecy, of utopia (in the positive sense of this word, not as an ideology but as a vision that unites and dynamizes different forces), of creativity, of making things new. I think it is a very powerful concept, related to the Church’s prophetic mission. We are called to be present in the world as salt of the earth and light of the world, as ferment and leaven, not to occupy spaces but to put into motion processes, as Pope Francis said in his speech in the event Re-thinking Europe, to maintain a dialogue with all, to advocate…. But the Church is also called to be prophetic and the concept of dream is very appropriate for this.

When has Pope Francis used this concept?

1. His new book coming out on the 1^st December is called Let Us Dream: The Pathto a Better Future. It is based on conversations he had with Austen Ivereigh.

One of the inspirations of this book is surprisingly a poem by the Cuban poet Alexis Valdés, that appeared in his account on Instagram (@alexisvaldes) called Esperanza:

This last sentence of the poem is quoted by the Pope in his new book, a book that speaks about walking together, about the path of fraternity, about synodal conversion. The Pope speaks also about his three personal ‘COVID’ experiences: his lung illness in 1957, in his second seminary year, that nearly killed him; his German “exile” to complete his studies in 1986 and his stay in Córdoba in the beginning of the 90, sent by his Superiors. He speaks also in this new book of integral ecology, of ecological conversion. When he speaks of synodality as a “protected space for community discernment” and not for political fight, he surprisingly quotes the example of the decision taken in July by the EU Council!

2. Fratelli tutti:

“Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.” (n. 8)

3. Querida Amazonía (2020; n. 7)

I dream of an Amazon region that fights for the rights of the poor, the original peoples and the least of our brothers and sisters, where their voices can be heard and their dignity advanced. (social dream)

I dream of an Amazon region that can preserve its distinctive cultural riches, where the beauty of our humanity shines forth in so many varied ways. (cultural dream)

I dream of an Amazon region that can jealously preserve its overwhelming natural beauty and the superabundant life teeming in its rivers and forests. (ecological dream)

I dream of Christian communities capable of generous commitment, incarnate in the Amazon region, and giving the Church new faces with Amazonian features. (ecclesial dream)

“So, with in mind, we can come now come to the Letter of Pope Francis on Europe in which he uses also this concept of dream.”

The context for writing the letter is explained in its introduction:

The following is the letter addressed by the Holy Father to His Eminence the Secretary of State on the 40th anniversary of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the European Union, and the 50th anniversary of the presence of the Holy See as Permanent Observer at the Council of Europe. To coincide with these anniversaries, a visit by Cardinal Parolin to Brussels was planned for the days 28 to 30 October, but has been cancelled due to the worsening of the health emergency. It is expected that the meetings with the authorities of the European Union and the members of COMECE can be held by video connection.

Content of the Letter:

Europe, find yourself! Rediscover your most deeply-rooted ideals. Be yourself! Do not be afraid of your millenary history, which is a window open to the future more than the past. Do not be afraid of that thirst of yours for truth, which, from the days of ancient Greece, has spread throughout the world and brought to light the deepest questions of every human being. Do not be afraid of the thirst for justice that developed from Roman law and in time became respect for all human beings and their rights. Do not be afraid of your thirst for eternity, enriched by the encounter with the Judeo-Christian tradition reflected in your patrimony of faith, art and culture.

Today, as many in Europe look to its future with uncertainty, others look to Europe with hope, convinced that it still has something to offer to the world and to humanity. The same conviction inspired Robert Schuman, who realized that “the contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations”. It is a conviction that we ourselves can share, setting out from shared values and rooted in the history and culture of this land.

What kind of Europe do we envision for the future? What is to be its distinctive contribution? In today’s world, it is not about recovering political hegemony or geographical centrality, or about developing innovative solutions to economic and social problems. The uniqueness of Europe rests above all on its conception of the human being and of reality, on its capacity for initiative and on its spirit of practical solidarity.

I dream, then, of a Europe that is a friend to each and all. A land respectful of everyone’s dignity, in which each person is appreciated for his or her intrinsic worth and not viewed purely from an economic standpoint or as a mere consumer. A land that protects life at every stage, from the time it arises unseen in the womb until its natural end, since no human being is the master of life, either his or her own life or the lives of others. A land that promotes work as a privileged means of personal growth and the pursuit of the common good, creating employment opportunities particularly for the young. Being a friend to others entails providing for their education and cultural development. It entails protecting the weakest and most vulnerable, especially the elderly, the sick in need of costly care, and those with disabilities. Being a friend to others entails defending their rights, but also reminding them of their duties.

I dream of a Europe that is a family and a community. A place respectful of the distinctiveness of each individual and every people, ever mindful that they are bound together by shared responsibilities. Being a family entails living in unity, treasuring differences, beginning with the fundamental difference between man and woman. In this sense, Europe is a genuine family of peoples, all different yet linked by a common history and destiny… We are faced with the choice between a model of life that discards people and things, and an inclusive model that values creation and creatures.

I dream of a Europe that is inclusive and generous. A welcoming and hospitable place in which charity, the highest Christian virtue, overcomes every form of indifference and selfishness. Solidarity, as an essential element of every authentic community, demands that we care for one another. To be sure, we are speaking of an “intelligent solidarity” that does more than merely attend to basic needs as they emerge.

I dream of a Europe marked by a healthy secularism, where God and Caesar remain distinct but not opposed. A land open to transcendence, where believers are free to profess their faith in public and to put forward their own point of view in society. The era of confessional conflicts is over, but so too – let us hope – is the age of a certain laicism closed to others and especially to God[8], for it is evident that a culture or political system that lacks openness to transcendence proves insufficiently respectful of the human person.

Address by
His Eminence Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN, Secretary of State,
to the COMECE Plenary Assembly
28th October 2020

I will just list a few points the Cardinal Secretary of State addressed in this speech, that are also related in some way also to the guidelines of the EU Commission:

Recovering from the consequences (health-care, social, economic and human) of the pandemic. The issue of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers who are knocking on Europe’s doors and asking for a welcome, understanding and solidarity.

A third question of particular importance is the question of climate and the environment. “The Green Deal project, which has set a goal of making Europe the first continent with a zero climatic impact by the year 2050, is undoubtedly an interesting and significant project, which could bring enormous benefits to Europe and the whole world.

Digitalisation:

An important aspect of European policies concerns its external activity and its presence in the world. Interest in Africa should not, therefore, be limited to solving migratory waves, but could be a unique chance for Europe to contribute to a genuinely organic development of the African continent.

The European elections in May 2019 show new interest on the part of European citizens, proved by the high voter turnout, which was more than half those who were entitled to vote, the highest since 1994. Another positive fact was the high number of young people who voted, many of whom voted for the first time. These facts encourage hope in the future of the European Union, but they also demand commitment from elected political representatives and from the Institutions, which are called to respond to the trust citizens have placed in them.

The Conference on the Future of Europe. It is to be hoped that the Church will be involved in this conference not only as an essential part of civil society, but above all as a partner of that “open, transparent and regular dialogue with the Churches” to which Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union refers.

Possible hints for reflection and discussion

• The concept of dream and the prophetic mission of the Church
• Are there different dreams for different regions of the world?
• Regions- Biomes (Amazon region, Europe?)
• interconnection; ecclesial networks
• The concept of incarnation and the presence of the Church on a regional level
• Synodality – synodal conversion of the Church
• Care for our common home and fraternity as two pillars that go together: Laudato Sì and Fratelli tutti. Possibly also: Evangelii Gaudium and Querida Amazonía

Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto
General Secretary of COMECE

This article is a contribution from Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, for Passion’s For Europe Conference.