VATICAN CITY — Europeans must not see their rich history simply as a fond memory of a time long gone, but they must look to it as a guide to overcoming divisions and challenges aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis reflected on the current state of the European Union in a letter marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the EU, the 40th anniversary of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community and the 50th anniversary of the presence of the Holy See as a permanent observer at the Council of Europe.
The letter to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of State, was released by the Vatican Oct. 27.
The pandemic, the pope said, “emerged as a kind of watershed” moment when countries can choose either to yield “to the temptation to autonomy,” which leads to more disagreement and conflict, or “rediscover the path of fraternity that inspired and guided the founders of modern Europe.”
“We have witnessed the temptation to go it alone, seeking unilateral solutions to a problem that transcends state borders,” he wrote. “Yet thanks to the great spirit of mediation that distinguishes the European institutions, we have also seen a determination to set out on the path of fraternity, which is also the path of solidarity, unleashing creativity and new initiatives.”
In his letter, the pope laid out a vision of a future for a Europe that does not lose its heritage and deeply-rooted ideals in an age of rapid change, which “can bring with it a loss of identity, especially when there is a lack of shared values on which to base society.”
“Europe, find yourself!” he wrote. “Be yourself! Do not be afraid of your millenary history, which is a window open to the future more than the past.”
The pope said he dreamed of a Europe that respects human dignity and where “each person is appreciated for his or her intrinsic worth and not viewed purely from an economic standpoint or as a mere consumer.”
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