Joins Leaders in Addressing Ecumenical Meeting
VATICAN CITY, MAY 15, 2007, Zenit.org - Benedict XVI encouraged representatives of European Christian movements to work toward safeguarding the "particular richness" of the continent -- its faith.
The Pope said this in a message to the meeting Together for Europe 2007, sent on his behalf by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state. The one-day meeting was held Saturday in Stuttgart.
Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, called the gathering of some 250 Christian movements one of the most important ecumenical initiatives of the year.
"The Together for Europe initiative," the papal message read, "has come to life through the good ecumenical intuition of Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican groups, associations, movements and communities, and seeks to underline the need to reaffirm together faithfulness to the Gospel in a Europe that risks losing its original values and giving up on its Christian roots."
The message quoted Pope John Paul II's apostolic exhortation "Ecclesia in Europa": "I would like to mention in a particular way the loss of Europe's Christian memory and heritage, accompanied by a kind of practical agnosticism and religious indifference whereby many Europeans give the impression of living without spiritual roots and somewhat like heirs who have squandered a patrimony entrusted to them by history."
The message affirmed, "Benedict XVI echoes this consideration. From the beginning of his pontificate he has never missed an opportunity to recall the importance of safeguarding the Christian inheritance, the particular richness of the European continent."
The message called for "defending a human and spiritual heritage that is vital for the authentic development of Europe."
Benedict XVI expressed his wish that the meeting of Together for Europe would "strengthen the desire for communion that animates lay movements and communities of the different churches."
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The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, also sent a message to the meeting, reflecting on the fact that "communion in Christ requires us to stay alert and to work to understand the other: This is why we rejoice over your 'day,' recalling that we must search for man made in the image of God -- far from human designs or ideological or class differences."
According to the patriarch, it is often the human person that tries to make God "in his image."
"To understand man and woman as rational beings made in God's image, we must elevate ourselves from an individualistic love to communion with God, to a serene and personal relationship with him," the patriarch said.
In this way we will break barriers "between nations and ethnic groups and races and we will feel like brothers," added Bartholomew I. "If we search for our Christian roots then our desire will be transformed into a tangible reality!"
The Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, praised the event, saying: "It is not important how many people want to have answers for the troubles of Europe but that many people know that there exists a true hope and a source of renewal beyond our projects and resources."
The meeting Together for Europe 2007 issued a message during the event that spoke of the continual growth in communion between Christian movements and communities.
The message also spoke in favor of life, family, creation, solidarity and dialogue, calling participants to communicate the Gospel of life and peace, and to promote Europe's Christian roots.
Code: ZE07051504
Date: 2007-05-15