VATICAN - Benedict XVI in the Czech Republic (3) - Meeting with Authorities: “The faith of Christians, from the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the early missionaries, has in fact played a decisive role in shaping the spiritual and cultural heritage of this country. It must do likewise in the present and into the future.”

Prague (Agenzia Fides) – On the afternoon of Saturday, September 26, the Holy Father Benedict XVI traveled to the Prague Castle for a Courtesy Visit to the President of the Czech Republic, and a meeting with the authorities and Diplomatic Corps. After a private meeting with the President, the Holy Father met with political and civil authorities, the Diplomatic Corps, university leaders, representatives of the Catholic Church, and members of civil society, the world of business, and the world of culture in the country. The Pope recalled that his pastoral visit to the Czech Republic “coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the totalitarian regimes in Central and Eastern Europe, and the 'Velvet Revolution' which restored democracy to this nation...Two decades after the profound political changes which swept this continent, the process of healing and rebuilding continues, now within the wider context of European unification and an increasingly globalized world.”
The Pope then highlighted that “today, especially among the young, the question again emerges as to the nature of the freedom gained” and on its true characteristics... “Every generation has the task of engaging anew in the arduous search for the right way to order human affairs, seeking to understand the proper use of human freedom...True freedom presupposes the search for truth – for the true good – and hence finds its fulfilment precisely in knowing and doing what is right and just. Truth, in other words, is the guiding norm for freedom, and goodness is freedom’s perfection.”
Benedict XVI then said: “For Christians, truth has a name: God. And goodness has a face: Jesus Christ. The faith of Christians, from the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the early missionaries, has in fact played a decisive role in shaping the spiritual and cultural heritage of this country. It must do likewise in the present and into the future.” The Pope then recalled the “role of cohesion at the heart of Europe” in present-day Czech Republic. “For centuries this territory has been a meeting point between various peoples, traditions, and cultures. As we are all aware, it has known painful chapters and carries the scars of tragic events born of misunderstanding, war and persecution. Yet it is also true, that its Christian roots have nourished a remarkable spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation and cooperation...Is it not precisely this spirit that contemporary Europe requires? Europe is more than a continent. It is a home! And freedom finds its deepest meaning in a spiritual homeland. With full respect for the distinction between the political realm and that of religion – which indeed preserves the freedom of citizens to express religious belief and live accordingly – I wish to underline the irreplaceable role of Christianity for the formation of the conscience of each generation and the promotion of a basic ethical consensus that serves every person who calls this continent, 'home!'”
Reflecting on “requires fidelity to the truth which alone is the guarantee of freedom and integral human development,” the Pope recalled that “sensibility to universal truth should never be eclipsed by particular interests, important though they may be... far from threatening the tolerance of differences or cultural plurality, the pursuit of truth makes consensus possible, keeps public debate logical, honest and accountable, and ensures the unity which vague notions of integration simply cannot achieve.”
Mentioning the many “architectural jewels” that adorn the city of Prague, the Pope affirmed that “their beauty expresses faith; they are epiphanies of God that rightly leave us pondering the glorious marvels to which we creatures can aspire when we give expression to the aesthetic and the noetic aspects of our innermost being...The creative encounter of the classical tradition and the Gospel gave birth to a vision of man and society attentive to God’s presence among us. In shaping the cultural patrimony of this continent it insisted that reason does not end with what the eye sees but rather is drawn to what lies beyond, that for which we deeply yearn: the Spirit, we might say, of Creation...Europe, in fidelity to her Christian roots, has a particular vocation to uphold this transcendent vision in her initiatives to serve the common good of individuals, communities, and nations.” In particular, the Holy Father reflected on the importance of the formation of the European youth, encouraging “parents and community leaders who expect authorities to promote the values which integrate the intellectual, human and spiritual dimensions of a sound education worthy of the aspirations of our young.”
Benedict XVI concluded his address by quoting the motto of the Presidential flag of the Czech Republic “Veritas vincit,” and commented: “In the end, truth does conquer, not by force, but by persuasion, by the heroic witness of men and women of firm principle, by sincere dialogue which looks beyond self-interest to the demands of the common good.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 28/9/2009)