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EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS

POPE FRANCIS AND EUROPE

A message for Europe

Un messaggio per l’Europa

EN | IT – Following the meeting with the European leaders in the Vatican, during which Pope Francis delivered a strong message for Europe, the Pontiff visited one of its most vital and emblematic centers. The Pope’s journey in the Archdiocese of Milan was brief but packed with events. The occasion, the 60th anniversary of the treaties that marked the beginning of the process of european unification, came in a time of crisis, of fear and bewilderment towards new and disturbing, though predictable, scenarios.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

60° Treaties of Rome: a Europe that struggles and hopes

60° Trattati di Roma: un’Europa che fatica e spera

EN | IT – On 25th March the heads of state and government of all EU member states are meeting in Rome to commemorate the sixty years since the signing of the Treaties of Rome. The top leaders of the European institutions will be present as well. Men and women, representatives of European movements, youth and seniors will join them and march through the streets of Rome to push their representatives to be bolder in pursuing the path towards the political unity of Europe.

National Issues

Poland: what “grandeur”?

Polonia: quale “grandeur”?

EN | IT – At the invitation of the Polish counterpart, on february 7 Angela Merkel will arrive in Warsaw. However, Beata Szydlo, Head of the Polish governement, will be greeting the german Chancellor at the airport with only a forced smile on her face.

EUROPE AND THE WORLD

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

The Church is for the European project

La Chiesa è per il progetto europeo

EN | IT – Card. Reinhard Marx, president of Comece (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community) released at Vatican Radio this comment about Pope Francis’ speech on the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome (25 March, 2017).

ON THE STEPS OF THE MEMORY

Europe in Aldo Moro’s project

L’Europa nel disegno di Aldo Moro

EN | IT – It is a ground for gratitude and hope to resume Moro’s European thought 100 years after his birth (1916-2016) and three months after the start of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome (25th March 1957). It is also important to remember that last February 24th, because of his look which went higher and farther, a room at the European Parliament was dedicated to the Italian statesman.

ECUMENISM

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The burqa debate and the human face

Il dibattito sul burqa e il volto

EN | IT | FR | DE – The political debate around banning the burqa for reasons of public safety is really laughable. The risk to security posed by a woman wearing a full veil is minimal compared with that posed by bellicose, brainwashed men. The discussion that has been going on for years now about Muslim women wearing headscarves or the presence in public spaces of religious symbols such as the crucifix all points to something rather more fundamental.

YOUTH AND EUROPE

That flag in the Wyd

Quella bandiera alla Gmg

EN | IT – What message will young people in Europe bring to Europe after the experience of World Youth Day in Krakow? To what extent will this global event leave traces? What consequences will the words of Pope Francis have specifically in the European context ransacked in several places and for different reasons? At the resumption of their commitments to research and work what extra soul will young people bring to the society, culture and politics of individual European countries, of the European Union and more broadly of Europe? Who will accompany them?

Europe against terrorism

Rouen: to resist the temptation of revenge

Rouen: resistere alla tentazione della vendetta

EN | IT | FR – A parish church on a summer morning. It is almost empty. Only a few people who went to church to bring the world in their prayer. We imagine them elderly, like the priest who presides over the assembly. Born in 1930, ordained a priest in 1958, Father Jacques Hamel has dedicated his life to proclaiming hope, never seeking honors. He still services with humility, like many other priests “in active retirement”. The result, this brutal irruption of barbarism, we refuse to describe.

IMMIGRATION

Migration: what is the Eu stake?

Migrazioni: qual è l'interesse dell'Ue?

EN | IT – A few weeks ago, Syrian refugees were shot and injured by Turkish border guards. Eight people lost their lives, including four children. Reports on ill-treatment of refugees at the Syrian-Turkish border are not new. It would be new if the Eu would publicly recognise these atrocities and draw the logical solution to review the EU-Turkey deal signed in March. Instead the Eu prefers to look away or close its eyes, so that this deal may be upheld.

ENVIRONMENT

Cop 21: Paris Agreement is moving in the right direction

Cop21: l’Accordo di Parigi va nella giusta direzione

EN | IT | FR – This April saw the launch of the one-year period for national governments to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change reached at the Cop 21 in Paris, the final stage before entry into force. The international community greeted with enthusiasm the substantial Paris Agreement on climate change produced last December by the Unfccc 21st meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Cop 21).

MEDIA IN EUROPE

Pulitzer for a “subtle lie”

Il Pulitzer per una "truffa a fin di bene"

EN | IT | PL – Armed Hungarian policemen seem to pester the family of refugees thrown on the railway track. The man seems to defend with his own body the woman and a little baby. The picture taken on September,3rd last year on the Bicske railway station by Reuters’ photojournalist Laszlo Balogh was published by newspapers and internet sites worldwide. But Mr Balogh perpetrated a smart ideological manipulation.

RUSSIA AND THE WEST

AFRICA AND EUROPE

The dust of Europe and the dust of Africa

Le ceneri dell’Europa e la polvere dell’Africa

EN | IT | FR – I was told this story which comes from Africa: during a Mass some faithful moved to drop their mite in a tray. A small African child seeing that his turn had arrived, and not having any coin, found nothing better than to put himself in the tray. He had nothing to offer other than himself. What better gift can we do that the gift of ourselves!

EUROPE AND GREECE

FAMILY AND LIFE

The joys and challenges

Le gioie e le sfide

EN | IT – We the Bishops from Europe and Africa, delegates of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (Ccee) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (Secam) have been meeting here in Mumemo, Mozambique. We spent time listening to the joys and challenges of families, testimonies from delegates and other participants; we have been reflecting, praying and trying to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying today to us as Shepherds of the Church in Africa and Europe…

II CATHOLIC SOCIAL DAYS FOR EUROPE

Do not hide the light

Una luce da non nascondere

EN | IT – How many European Catholics – even among the most committed – realized what was staged in Madrid last September 18th-21st? Few, I’m sure, because – with some exceptions – there has been little reference to the second edition of the Social Days for Europe on the very same ecclesial media (not to mention the secular ones). Yet a meeting that was attended by nearly two hundred delegates from 29 European countries would have deserved, by the mere fact of being organized, much more consideration.

EcclesiainEuropa

The Catholic Bishops of Europe published a Statement in view of the upcoming European elections. In this text, they reaffirm their support for the European project. They encourage all citizens of the European Union to go to the polling booths on the 22nd and 25th May, and to start engaging, during the run-up to the election, in constructive dialogue with their MEP’s and those who are candidates for seats. At the same time, COMECE invites the Bishops’ conferences in the EU, to adopt this text, either by using it as an Election Statement as such or as an inspiration for their own election statements.

Read the full text  in different languages​​:
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EcclesiainEuropa

  «Given the importance of the means of social communication, the Church in Europe must necessarily pay particular attention to the multi-faceted world of the mass media. This would include, among other things: the adequate training of Christians who work in the field of communications and of those who make use of the media, for a better understanding of the new kinds of language employed in the media. Special attention should be given to choosing properly trained persons to communicate the message through the media. It would also prove very helpful to have an exchange of information and of strategies between the Churches about different aspects and initiatives concerning this communication. Nor should the creation of local instruments of social communications be neglected, also on the parish level». Continue

(Ecclesia in Europa, 63)
Read the full text of "Ecclesia in Europa" in different languages​​:
EN | IT | FR | ES | DE