The Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) issued a
statement for Europe Day, inviting Europeans not to lose hope for the
future.
“To all those who today live in the European
continent and who find themselves in difficulties due to the current
economic crisis, who feel alone, who have lost or are looking for work
and who, due to the serious crisis in meaning and in faith, struggle to
look to the future, and to young people in particular, we want to say
that the Church in Europe is close and invites you not to lose hope.”
“In this Year of Faith - the CCEE statement went on to say - we recall with total conviction what Blessed John Paul II said ten years ago, in the Exhortation Ecclesia in Europa: “Jesus Christ is the source of hope for Europe.”
“At the same time, we call on everyone not to allow fear and selfishness to cloud the charity, which has always characterised our continent, but instead to rediscover the importance of the family, the value of the gift and welcome, being a neighbour to those most in need.”
In their message bishops thanked “all those who, moved by faith, are promoters of works of charity and aid at the local, national and international levels. The help they give is a prompt and concrete answer to many material needs, but is also the sign of God’s love who through Jesus Christ became close to every body.”
Finally, they invited the Continent’s Christians “to grasp the opportunity of Europe Day – of this “community of destiny” as Robert Schuman called it on 9 May 1950 – to reflect on their commitment in the construction of a European society open to the Absolute and characterised by truth, justice, solidarity and freedom: pillars of peace as they were defined by Pope John XXIII, fifty years ago, in Pacem in terris.”