"To declare that Europe does not have Christian roots is like
claiming that a man may live without oxygen or nourishment ," said Pope
Benedict XVI on April 11 as he welcomed a new ambassador from Croatia to
the Holy See.
Noting that Croatia will soon become a full member of the European
Union, the Pope told the new envoy, Filip Vucak, that the move should
not entail a step toward secularization.
The people of Croatia, the
Pontiff should, should be bring into the European community “their rich
Croatian historical heritage and the Christian culture with which it is
deeply permeated.”
Pope Benedict added that Europe needs constant
reminders of its own Christian heritage. He said:
Dour voices dispute Europe's religious roots with bewildering regularity. Amnesia and the denial of historical evidence have become customary.
Pope Benedict will be visiting Croatia in June.