Leading Heads of Bishops' Appeal "In a world fractured by war" - "Europe must rediscover its soul"


Leading Heads of Bishops' Appeal: Christians for Europe – The Power of Hope

Following the Jubilee of Hope, Pope Leo XIV issued a stirring call for a "new beginning of hope." They wrote, as presidents of the European Episcopal Conferences, we embrace this mission. In a world fractured by war, polarization, and a threatened international order, Europe must rediscover its soul to serve the global common good.

The Foundation: Faith and Humanism

Historically, Christianity—alongside Hellenistic and Roman influences—is the bedrock of our continent. It shaped a humanist Europe defined by solidarity and openness. Today, in a pluralistic landscape of diverse languages and faiths, Christians may be fewer in number, but our commitment to the foundations of hope remains steadfast.

Learning from History: From Ruin to Reconciliation

The horrors of the Second World War and the tragedy of the Holocaust necessitated a new world order. Lay Catholics, driven by faith, envisioned Europe as a "common home," leading to the birth of the United Nations and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

The founding fathers—Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, and Alcide De Gasperi—were not naive. They were architects of peace who understood that:

  • Solidarity is built through action: Europe is created through concrete achievements, not overnight decrees.

  • Faith fuels service: As St. John Paul II noted, their love for Christ translated into a labor of love for humanity.

  • Nationalism is an idol: De Gasperi warned that exacerbated nationalism replaces God with the State; a united Europe was built to protect homelands from the very nationalisms that destroy them.

A Vision Beyond Markets

Europe is more than a financial bloc. To honor its origins, it must:

  1. Uphold the Rule of Law: Reject isolationism and the logic of violence.

  2. Prioritize Diplomacy: Utilize supranational mechanisms for conflict resolution.

  3. Foster Reconciliation: Remain ready for dialogue even in the darkest times of conflict.

A New Beginning in a Changing World

We are in an era of "epochal change." While Euroscepticism exists, the crisis in Ukraine has, in many ways, drawn Europeans closer. Pope Francis reminds us that the European project arose from the ashes of rubble not by imposition, but by a "free choice for the common good."

The Church’s mission today is to help heal a weary but potent Europe. We do this by:

  • Proclaiming the Gospel through action.

  • Tending to humanity’s wounds with mercy.

  • Treating politics as a "commitment of love" for one's neighbor, as Schuman suggested.

The world needs Europe. In the name of our faith, we invite all inhabitants of this continent to join us in building a future rooted in universal brotherhood.

The appeal was signed by: 

Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, President of the French Episcopal Conference

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference

Monsignor Georg Bätzing, Bishop of Limburg, President of the German Bishops' Conference

Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda of Gdansk, President of the Polish Episcopal Conference

SEE the FULL LETTER: https://www.chiesacattolica.it/appello-cristiani-per-leuropa-la-forza-della-speranza/

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