Europe of the Spirit: where the hope for Europe lies
It is not the first time that the Gniezno forum has posed the question about Europe’s future. This year’s conference, however, was particularly important because of the imminent membership of Poland in the European Union. It was significant that Gniezno was the chosen venue. In the year 1000, Gniezno was the cradle not only of the Polish Church but of the Polish nation as well. St. Adalbert is buried in this city. Martyred in his attempt to christianize the Prussians, he is considered as one of the Fathers of the united Europe. “Europa Ducha,” Europe of the Spirit, was the title of the important conference organized by St. Adalbert’s Forum, which is composed of several Polish associations and movements. The conference brought together over 500 participants from all parts of the Old Continent. Fifteen different countries and 25 public organizations were represented. There were also about a hundred journalists. Leading figures were present, such as Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity; Card. Lehmann, President of the German Bishops’ Conference; Polish Primate Card. Jozef Glemp; founders of ecclesial movements such as Chiara Lubich and Andrea Riccardi. Also a large number of politicians, civic leaders and intellectuals participated. Zofia Dietl, the conference organizer, explained: “We invited the Movements because the title ‘Europe of the Spirit’ wants to put into light the European spirituality and those who are building it. Currently, I believe, the most important elements of European spirituality are the Movements, the New Communities. That is why we asked Chiara Lubich and Andrea Riccardi to open this conference.”
The circular hall was filled to capacity last March 12. After the preliminary remarks, the word was passed to Chiara who addressed the theme “Charism of Unity, Charism of Europe”. Piotr Cywinski, moderator of the morning session, commented: “This conference began in a strong and convincing way thanks to this contribution which is a true theological study on unity.” Chiara was followed by Prof. Andrea Riccardi who presented a vast historical fresco on Europe. He began by saying: “Wherever I go in the world I see that Europe is badly needed.” In the dialogue with the participants afterwards, Andrea and Chiara helped delineate this Europe of the spirit, completing one another’s ideas with great hope in a Europe which is on its feet and functioning well… In the afternoon, there was a discussion on “Christians and Money” with Michel Camdessus, Prof. Gronkiewicz-Waltz, and Leo Andringa, a Dutch married focolarino. The proposal of the Economy of Communion was well-received by the public who saw it not as a utopia but as a prophetic reality. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, former president of the Bank of Poland, currently president of the Bank of Europe for Reconstruction and Development, affirmed: “The Economy of Communion is possible. (…) It could be the solution on the national, regional and personal levels.” And Michel Camdessus, former general director of the International Monetary Fund, commented: “Economy and Communion can be interrelated, yes. A principle which evidently we have all forgotten is the principle of brotherhood; the world must be built first and foremost on this foundation. Furthermore, we Christians go a step further by passing from brotherhood to communion. We must do this and suggest it to others, because we are all brothers and sisters.” The Gniezno conference concluded with speeches given by authoritative persons in European politics. In particular, the President of Poland Aleksandr Kwasniewski, who began his talk with warm words of recognition on the importance of Christian Movements in the life of Europe. An interesting discussion followed on the role of politicians in this historical moment, with Rocco Buttiglione, Italian Minister of European Affairs, and the former Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki. The fact that Gniezno was an important step for Europe along the way to Stuttgart, was confirmed by Cardinal Lehmann, President of the German Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Mainz: “In May we will see one another in Stuttgart and it will be a good continuation of this conference. I believe that many efforts, many opinions, many associations are needed… But the Movements have a strong spirit, a constant commitment, and I feel that this is very important. A fleeting enthusiasm, a sudden outburst is not enough; we need to work with continuity, as the Movements do.”
Poznan is one of Poland’s most ancient cities. It is fifty kilometers from Gniezno where the conference entitled “Europe of the Spirit” was held. Although it is steeped in tradition, Poznan is a youthful city due to the presence of nineteen universities in its territory, making it one of the most vibrant academic centers of Poland. Bishop Stanislaw Gadecki, archbishop of Poznan, affirmed: “When I heard that Chiara Lubich was coming to Gniezno, I immediately asked the Focolare if it would be possible to have a meeting in Poznan, especially for the students. I really didn’t think it would be possible, but in the end we succeeded. And, as we saw today, the atmosphere was so special that the participants were captivated by the spirituality of unity, by the spirituality of the focolarini.” On March 13, Chiara was invited to speak in the “Adam Makiewicz” University Auditorium. Before Chiara’s talk, a small group of the “Polish people” of the Movement were introduced onstage in front of the monumental organ. They are the Focolare people formed at a time when it was impossible to do anything other than live the Gospel. It was an emotional moment for all during the viewing of the brief documentary on the meetings between the Polish Pope and the Focolare. In her address Chiara proposed the evangelical radicalness of love which appeared to be the one and only solution that could instill new fervor in the life of the Christian community. It emerged as a source of joy and fervor and as the antidote to consumerism, to a lukewarm religious life. In conclusion, Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, on behalf of the diocese, gave Chiara a medal of honor for her visit. Cardinal Jozef Glemp, archbishop of Warsaw, commented: “In the university hall of Poznan we not only listened to an address by Chiara Lubich – I know her very well – but we witnessed the creation of what I would call the environment of faith. The young people were able to experience, not only from the clarity and content of her talk, but also from being in this environment which allows you to turn directly to people in an informal and familiar way. I think that Chiara’s great charism consists in this.”
Chiara Lubich’s first visit to the Emerald Isle was characterized by meetings with top-level figures in Ireland’s political, economic and ecclesial circles. Such meetings received coverage by the nation’s two most important national dailies (Irish Times and Irish Independent).
After the economic boom enjoyed by the country in recent years, the search for a profound ethical dimension comes to the fore. This fact was highlighted during the meeting held at the University of Dublin’s Faculty of Economics, where the Economy of Communion was offered as a way to give globalization a human face. The Governor of the Bank of Ireland, in his opening remarks, stated that “The Economy of Communion system arises from a spiritual culture which I consider to be most important. Economics is in need of a profound ethical dimension which the Economy of Communion can give to Ireland as well.”
Ireland, historically a profoundly Catholic nation, is now seeking an answer to the wave of de-Christianization which is crossing the entire Western world. The Irish Bishops’ Conference President, Bishop Seran Brady, invited Chiara Lubich to speak to a group of bishops on the topic of the Church as Communion and about her experience of evangelization. Also present in the meeting were the Apostolic Nunzio, Msgr. Lazzarotto; the Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Connell; and the Auxiliary Archbishop, Diarmuid Martin.
To mark the conclusion of Chiara Lubich’s trip to Ireland, the little town of the Movement, “Mariapolis Lieta”, was inaugurated as a “laboratory of unity.” The commemoration of the deceased members of the Movement who were instrumental in the birth and development of the Ideal of unity in Ireland was a particularly moving moment.
Ireland, a country of 5 million inhabitants, is playing an important role as sitting President of the European Union, right at a time when the Eastern European countries start being included among the Union members. The European situation was the main topic of conversation between Chiara Lubich and the summit leaders of the Irish republic. Audience with the President of the Republic of Ireland President Mary McAleese received Chiara at the presidential palace. Born in Northern Ireland, she has experienced the impact of division and violence. A deeply Christian woman, the program of her mandate is: “Building bridges.” The fruitful 50-minute dialogue with Chiara touched on varied subjects, including the European situation and the issue of recognizing Europe’s deeply Christian roots. Chiara remarked later on the many points in common that surfaced. Prime Minister Bertie Aherne commented after his meeting with Chiara: “The message she offered today is very important for a divided island – as Ireland is – whose society is still struggling and is facing, among other issues, religious problems as well. We also spoke about the difficulties that lie ahead for the European Union at the imminent prospect of coexistence among diverse cultures and States. I think that what I have heard today and read in the past bears witness to the work being done by the Movement: that of putting people together, even if they have different points of view.” To politicians: Brotherhood as a political category The group consisted of 19 politicians, including 10 congressmen and senators belonging to different political parties. Northern Ireland was well-represented with the presence of the president of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Mark Durkan. Antonio Maria Baggio, who came from Rome, presented the Politics for Unity Movement, which proposes fraternity as a political category to people with the most diverse party affiliations. His proposal was well accepted and there was a spirit of new hope. Follow-up gatherings were immediately planned.
The Governor of the Bank of Ireland, Laurence Crowley, opened the meeting sponsored by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Dublin. The meeting, was entitled “Humanizing global economy – towards an Economy of Communion”. It is the innovative economic proposal, born in the terrain of the Focolare spirituality of unity, which has aroused much interest in the Irish academic community. Indeed Chiara Lubich’s message was warmly received by the qualified audience of scholars, entrepreneurs, and students – 200 in all. A group of experts demonstrated that the Economy of Communion is a wellspring of new ideas and the herald of an innovative economic culture. The experiences of several businessmen and women, starting with the pioneers of the Spartaco Business Park in Brazil and others, added credibility to the project. Governor Crowley affirmed: “I’m interested in the Economy of Communion, certainly because of its underlying aspects regarding economic and business theory. But, from what I understood, the project emerges from a spiritual culture which I deem to be very important. Economics needs a profound ethical dimension which the Economy of Communion can give in Ireland, too, where the current economic dynamism demands a supplement of ethical values.”