In Austria, pope sticks to core theme of Christian values

Published: 2007-09-10

VIENNA, Austria (CNS) -- On a three-day pilgrimage to Austria, Pope Benedict XVI brought a core theme of his pontificate to Central Europe, warning that a drift away from Christian values is leaving society unfulfilled, less charitable and without a real future. Although the pope's events during the Sept. 7-9 visit were low-key, his message was not. To diverse audiences of Catholic faithful, politicians, church ministers and volunteers, he argued that Europe risks adopting a godless vision that will inevitably lead to a spiritual, social and demographic dead end. One of the pope's most telling speeches came in Vienna on the first day of his trip, when he addressed a group that included scores of international diplomats and representatives. Instead of covering the usual list of global trouble spots, the pope made a strong pro-life appeal, zeroing in on the problems of abortion and euthanasia. Beyond the moral issue of the taking of innocent life, the pope raised a wider question: whether Europe, with its low birth rate and rapidly aging population, is "giving up on itself."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .