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política! leaders believe, might well
be the formula for unity
today-a
reconstitution of the whole of das–
sic Europe, along the lines of the
old Holy Roman Empire, under the
Catholic aegis.
Where will it all
/ead?
Rellgious Un ity
First, consider the religious
sphere.
The theme of Euro–
pean unity on the basis
of a common religious
and cultural heritage
has been raised fre–
quently by Pope John
Paul IJ. For him it is
no casual , passing con–
cero. He has made it
very clear that he
believes he has a literal
cal/ing from God
to
unite Europe!
During bis well-pub–
licized trip to bis native
Poland in June, 1979,
Pope John Paul II
declared: ' 'Europe, de–
spite its present and
long-lasting division of
regimes, ideologies and
economic and political
systems,
cannot cease
to seek its fundamen–
tal unity and must
turn to Christian–
ity: .
..
Economic and
political reasons cannot
do it. We must go
deeper...."
25, 1980, John Paul 11 told a group
of 200 European journalists that
they had a serious responsibility to
help shape public opinion in the
effort to create "a united Europe."
Y
et they still appeared not to realize
the significance of his words.
The days are rapidly approach–
ing when the theme will not be
ignored!
Europe and the
witbin the Catbolic Church over
recent decades.
Pope John Paul II's predeces–
sors- Pius XII (1939-1958), John
XXIII (1958-1963) and Paul VI
( 1963-1978)- all threw their con–
siderable weight behind moves for
the creation of a supranational
European community. John
XXIII
said that Catbolics should be "in
the front ranks" of the
unification effort.
Pope Paul VI was
especially vocal in his
support for European
unity.
In November, 1963,
soon after assuming
the papal throne, Paul
VI declared: "Every–
one knows the tragic
history of our century.
If
there is a means of
preventing this from
happening again, it is
the construction of a
peaceful, organic,
united Europe."
In 1965, Paul VI
declared that "a long,
arduous path lies
ahead. However the
Holy See hopes to see
tbe day boro
when a
new Europe will arise,
rich with the fullness
of its traditions and
animated by a common
will to build the best
possible future for the
millions of inbabitants
of Europe."
Perhaps the most
Nine months later,
John Paul 11 renewed
his call for a united
Europe including the
Western European na–
tions
and the Commu–
nist bloc countries.
Catholic Church need each
other's help ... unity can be achieved
only by working together.
forceful of Paul VI's
calls for European uni–
ty carne on October 18,
1975. It was an address
in Rome to partici–
pants in the Third
During an audience
with more than 3,000 Yugoslavs on
March 21, 1980, he stressed that
Europe must seek religious unity if
it is to advance beyond íts present
divisions.
The world's large, mass-circula–
tion newspapers and magazines
took little notice of these and simi–
lar statements--overlooking one of
the potentially biggest stories of
tbis century!
In a prívate audience on October
32
John Paul 11 takes the subject
very seriously. This was evidenced
in an address to top European theo–
logians. In it, the Pope asserted his
conviction that "the problem that
assails us is really to save Europe
and the world from the
final catas–
trophe"!
Recurrent Theme
Now see how tbis theme of a uni–
fied Europe has been developing
Symposium of the Bishops of
Europe. Present were more than
100 bishops, cardinals and prelates
representing 24 European coun–
tries. Addressing the question of
the role of bishops in spreading the
Catholic faith, Paul VI asserted:
"Can it not be said tbat it is faith,
the Christian faith,
the Catholic
faith that made Europe
... ?"
Paul VI continued: "And it is
there that
our mission
as bisbops in
The PLAIN TRUTH