Focolare Movement

What they said in Gniezno

Apr 27, 2004

Poland joins the European Union

  Danuta Heubner, Polish Minister of European Affairs “The movements and Christian communities have a role to play: they are closer to the people, so their responsibility in the process of integration particularly consists in establishing a dialogue with regular citizens. They have to help people bring the content of an elevated philosophical level to the level of daily life. In this way the human and Christian values which bind Europe together can become subjects of dialogue and reflection, and we can join the European Union with a greater awareness of the step we are taking.” Rocco Buttiglione, Italian Minister of European Affairs “God’s Spirit always arouses something new. Where the Old Europe seems to have forgotten its Christian heritage, there the Spirit of God has spoken anew, through the movements. This is not the first time: it had already happened through St. Francis, Dominic, Ignatius, Benedict… the new movements bear witness to the vitality of Europe’s roots, which are not only Christian but are also the product of people who – through their sincere search for the truth, for God – have contributed to Europe’s creation.” Tadeusz Mazowiecki, former prime minister of Poland, the first after the fall of the Communist regime If Europe is to become a political community, it should plant its roots in that culture which we call “Europe of the Spirit”. For this to develop we need new ideas, people with new ideas. I believe that many of the movements present here were born from the need for new ideas and this is precisely their role. The Church is 2000 years old and yet it is constantly renewing itself, as it is doing today thanks to the new movements. I believe all this is useful not only for the Church but also for Europe. The need for deeper values is felt not only by those who put Christianity into practice, but also by people who do not profess any particular faith. There is great need for moral authorities. People need solid principles. The movements play a significant role in this. Michel Camdessus, former General Director of the International Monetary Fund “I believe we are assisting at a magnificent event which proves the vitality of Polish Christianity, as well as its ecumenical ties and the seriousness with which Poland is moving into the European adventure. Certainly, the movements of spirituality have something to say to Europe, as all Christians do. What we are bringing to Europe in particular is Christian social thinking, a treasure we can share with the whole world. I believe there is no system of thought capable of responding to the restlessness of contemporary men and women as Christianity does.” Adam Schulz, Jesuit, Director of the Polish Consultancy on Movements “The Europe of tomorrow needs sanctity, most of all. This is the most important contribution of the movements. A kind of holiness which expresses itself in different ways. Holiness is different for the politician, for the man of culture, for the student… Today Europe is truly in need of people who live the Gospel in an uncompromising way. The movements provide one of those few environments wherein one can grow in this kind of holiness of life, and as I look at Europe, I can see that such persons do exist.

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