Pope calls on Europe to ‘put the human person back at the center’

July 04, 2016

Pope Francis spoke in a video message to participants in “Encounter, reconciliation, future,” an ecumenical gathering in Munich sponsored by Together for Europe.

“It is time to get together, to face the problems of our day with a true European spirit,” the Pope said in the July 2 message. “Apart from some visible walls, other invisible walls are being strengthened which tend to divide our continent … They are walls made of fear and aggression, a failure to understand people of different backgrounds or faith. They are walls of political and economic selfishness, without respect for the life and dignity of every person.”

“If Europe as a whole wants to be a family of peoples, it should put the human person back at the center; it should be an open and welcoming continent, and continue to establish ways of working together that are not only economic but also social and cultural,” he continued.

The Pope also called upon participants to be open to the newness God brings.

“You, who have answered the Lord’s call courageously, are called to show his newness in your lives and bring to life the fruits of the Gospel, fruits that have grown from Christian roots, which for the last 2,000 years have nourished Europe,” he said.

 

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Further information:

• Videomessaggio del Santo Padre Francesco alla Manifestazione di “Insieme per l'Europa” a Monaco di Baviera (Holy See Press Office)
• The Pope: together for Europe, necessary today more than ever (Holy See Press Office)
• 4 cardinals take part in European ecumenical gathering (CWN, 7/1)
• Together for Europe