Pope urges Christian movements to ensure Europe has 'a soul'

Published: 2004-05-10

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Christian faith and values that gave birth to the cultures of many European countries must be strengthened to "give a soul" to the recently expanded European Union, Pope John Paul II said. "Europe needs the commitment and enthusiasm of Christians, especially youths, in order to welcome the good news of the Gospel of Christ," the pope said in a message to the May 8 ecumenical assembly, "Together for Europe." The assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, was sponsored by 150 mainly lay Christian movements from the Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican traditions. The main Catholic organizers of the event, which focused on promoting peace and unity in Europe and in the world, were the Focolare Movement and the Sant'Egidio Community. In his message to the meeting, Pope John Paul said Christianity's influence on European culture and its function as a cultural bond among different nations is not a relic of the past, but a promise for the present and future.

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