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Europe takes on a gripping per–
spective.
No other human force in
Europe can render the service
that
is confided to us, promoters of the
faith,
to reawaken Europe's Chris–
tian soul, where its unity is
rooted."
Paul VI called the Catholic faith
"the
secret of Europe's identity."
In discovering this important
secret, he said, Europe could then
go on to perform "the providential
service to which God is still calling
it."
The Klngmake r
On June 27, 1977, Paul VI took a
major step toward promoting his
vision of European unity-a step
whose full ramifications are yet to
be felt!
On that day-slightly a year
before his death- Paul VI clevated
G iovanni Benelli, the dynamic
archbishop of Florence, to the rank
of cardinal.
Numerous reasons lay behind
the move. But sources clase to the
Vatican reveal that a major objec–
tive was to give Archbishop Benelli
the standing with which to effec–
tively undertake an important
role-the role of
organizer of a
"new soul" for Europe!
Cardinal Benelli's commission is
to galvanize new unity on the Con–
t inent , to actively push the idea of a
united Europe.
Giovanni Benell i is a man with
many friends- and enemies. His
friends descr ibe him as "tough–
minded," " hard-d r iving," "tire–
less," "politically adroit" and even
"charming." His adversaries call
him " dangerous," "ruthless" and
"despotic."
Cardinal Benelli, 61, has had a
long and successful career. Born
near Pistoia in Tuscany, he was
ordained a priest in 1943. In 1948
he joined the Vatican diplomatic
service and subsequently served in
numerous overseas posts, including
Ireland, France, Brazi l, Spain and
Senegal.
Cardinal Benelli served for many
years as Pope Paul VI's "chief of
staff'' or administrative right-hand
man. He was an intimate adviser
and was named deputy secretary of
state in 1967.
Aprll 1982
Vat ican sources reveal that he
was clearly favored for the papacy
by Paul VI before his death. Arch–
bishop Benelli's elevation to cardi–
nal in 1977 and appointment to the
See of Florence to round out his
experience were reportedly de–
signed to signa! that fact.
In his new role of organizer of a
"new soul" for Europe, Giovanni
Cardinal Benelli's
commission .. . is to
actively push the
idea of a united Europe.
Benell i delivered the main speech
at an important conference in Ba–
varia, West Germany, in Septem–
ber, 1977. The purpose of the con–
ference was to discuss the religious
contribution to the first direct elec–
tions to the enlarged and strength–
ened European Parliament. In
attendance were many influential
political figures, including West
Germany's Franz Josef Strauss.
Card inal Benelli said in bis
address that Europe would be
united effectively
only
if
proper
value is p/aced on its religious her–
itage.
He suggested that one reason
for the lack of enthusiasm for a
united Europe might be weakening
of the religious spirit in Europe.
That t rend , he asserted, would have
to be reversed.
In the pope-electing conclaves of
1978, Giovanni Benelli emerged as
"the power behind the throne."
Cardinal Benell i engineered the
election of Albino Luciani (the
short-lived Pope John Paul I) in
August, 1978.
In the balloting for Pope
Luciani's successor in the October,
1978, conclave (which eventually
elected Karol Wojtyla as John Paul
JI),
Giovanni Benell i fell only a few
votes short of being elected pope
himself! Cardinal Wojtyla report–
edly voted for Card inal Benelli in
the early balloting.
Sources in Rome familiar with
the Vatican's inner workings say
that Cardinal Benelli's failure to be
elected was due, in part, to the fact
that he was considered to be simply
"too young"- 57- in 1978. This
was three years short of the míni–
mum age for a pope by traditional
standards.
With this in mind, knowledge–
able churchmen, when asked before
the October, 1978, conclave about
Cardinal Benelli's c hances of
~
becoming pope, remarked, "Not
11!
¡
this time,
next time."
.~
Cardinal Benelli is definitely
a
~
man to watch
in the new Europe!
Europe and the Cross
The Popes' calls for "the formation
of the spiri tual unity of Europe"
have been echoed by influential
spokesmen in the political arena.
Most prominent among these is
Otto von Hapsburg- a key figu re
in the movement for European uni–
fication. Dr. von Hapsburg is the
eldest son of the last Austro-Hun–
garian emperor.
With the endorsement of his
longtime politician friend Franz
Josef Strauss, Dr. von Hapsburg
won a seat in 1979 in the European
Parliament. Observers of the Euro–
pean political scene feel Dr. von
Hapsburg's views will carry in-
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