Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI addressed, through Cardinal Angelo Sodano secretary of state, a Message to the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Cardinal. Paul Poupard and participants at a European Meeting “Restoring Europe’s Soul” organised jointly by the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Department for Foreign Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, being held in Vienna 3 - 5 May (see Fides 2/5/2006). Here is the text of the message:
“Your Eminence, with great courtesy you informed the Holy Father of the colloquium to be held in Vienna from the 3rd to the 5th of May dedicated to common reflection among Catholic and Orthodox representatives on the commitment of Christians in public life in Europe. This significant meeting is the fruit of encouraging cooperation between the Pontifical Council and the Patriarchate of Moscow with the concrete support of the Pro Oriente Foundation in particular by its president, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn.
The Supreme Pontiff sends his cordial greetings to participants at this important Symposium during which Catholic and Orthodox representatives will engage in common analysis of the challenges Europe is living at this moment of its history. The Supreme Pontiff has not failed to point out on various occasions that the peoples of the continent of Europe today find themselves challenged by emerging questions with regard to the meaning of life, the value of freedom and the very future of Europe. In this context he has continually called on them to build their present and their future in the light of the ethic and moral values which down through the centuries have illuminated their history, learning also from negative experience of the past.
The Church "expert in humanity", never tires of saying that only by safeguarding and valuing to the full the legacy of values handed down by its forebears can Europe, with respect for the different spiritual traditions with which it is enriched, write a new page in its history respecting human dignity and definitively banning abuse and violence of human rights which poses a serious obstacle to integral development of nations, poisons the human heart and greatly wrongs the honour of the Creator (cfr Gaudium et spes, 27).
While His Holiness hopes the meeting will offer those who take part useful elements for leading together courageous new evangelisation of Europe in the third millennium, he assures his prayers for the nations of Europe that they may rediscover in Christ their common vocation at the service of peace and authentic progress all over the world and invokes abundant divine blessings on all the participants”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/5/2006 righe 32, parole 434)
