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the world's most powerful trading
bloc. And West Germany- at the
center of the European continent–
becomes the most powerful nation
of Europe west of the Soviet
Union.
Pattern of Histo ry
Again, Europe has set out on the
road to unity. Past articles in this
series have shown that the Roman
dream of a united Europe has
per–
meated
the history of the Conti–
nent.
J ustinian dreamed of restor ing the
Roman Empire. He accomplished it
in A.D. 554, healing the "deadly
wound" administered to Rome by
barbarían invaders in 476. But his
restoration was short-lived.
In A.D. 800, Charlemagne was
crowned as
imperator Romano–
rum,
again restoring the Roman
Empire in the West. In Charle–
magne, Western Europe had a
Christian Caesar, a Roman emper–
or born of Germanic race. His
realm was the spiritual heir of the
old Western Roman Empire.
Charlemagne was
rex pater
Europae- "King
Father of Eu–
rope." He showed Europeans the
ideal of a unified Christian Empire.
Throughout the Míddle Ages, the
memory of the once-great Roman
Empire lived as a vital tradition in
the hearts of Europeans.
In 962, Otto the Great revived
Charlemagne's Empire as the first
fully German Reich. The
Sacrum
Romanum lmperium Nationis Ger–
manicae- Holy
Roman Empire of
the German Nation-made its debut.
Otto's octagonal crown became the
very symbol of the concept of Euro–
pean unity. Germany became the
power center of the Empire.
In the 16th century, the great
Habsburg Emperor Charles V pur–
sued tirelessly, though ultimately
unsuccessfully, the medieval ideal
of a unified Empire embracing the
entire Christian world.
Napoleon, too, dreamed of a res–
urrected Roman-European civiliza–
tion, dominated by France. He con–
sidered himself the heir and succes–
sor to Caesar and Charlemagne.
Mussolini likewise envisioned a
modero Roman Empire. In 1936 he
proclaimed another resurrection of
the Roman Empire, claiming suc–
cession to imperial Rome.
34
Mutua l Need
Along with the time-honored system
of Roman-inspi red government, an–
other pattern has stood out in the
panorama of European history: the
intimate relationship of the spiritual
with the secular power.
Throughout the Middle Ages,
leaders considered the Church at
Rome to be God's chosen instru–
ment in
spiritual
matters. The
Holy Roman Empire was regarded
as God's chosen
political
organiza–
tion over Wes tern Christendom.
Pope and Emperor were regarded
as God's vice-regents on earth.
This intimate alliance of Church
and State served the needs of both
institutions. The Empire exercised
its political and mi litary powers to
defend religion and enforce internal
submission through religious uni–
formity. The Church, i'rl turn, acted
as a glue for Europe, holding
together the differing nationalities
by the tie of common religion.
This ideal in Church-State rela–
tions was never completely realized,
as we have seen in the frequent con–
fticts between Emperors and Popes
for the leadership of Christian
Europe. Yet despite their rivalry, the
Papacy and Empire remained closely
associated, their mutual need for
each other overriding disagreements
of lesser importance.
Justinian became inheritor of the
Roman Empire as Christianized by
Constantine. He acknowledged the
supremacy of the Pope in the West.
Charlemagne received the im–
perial crown at the hands of Pope
Leo 111, initiating a close alliance
between Pope and Empire.
Otto the Great was crowned
Holy Roman Emperor by Pope
John XII, reviving Charlemagne's
Empire in an alliance between
Emperor and Church.
Pope Clement VI I crowned
Charles V as Holy Roman Emper–
or. Charles fought hard to maintain
the spiritual unity of Europe.
N_apoleon's coronation was con–
secrated by Pope Pius V11 . Musso–
lini , too, recognized the need to
come to terms with the Vatican, as
did Adolf Hitler a few years later.
All these successors of the
Roman Caesars understood the vast
importance of the Papacy in Euro–
pean affai rs.
But what of the present and
future role of the Vatican in
Europe in these latter days of the
20th century?
Elusive Unity
Over the past few decades the
authority and unity of the Roman
Catholic Church have been severe–
ly shaken. The festering issues of
birth control, abortion, divorce, cel–
ibacy, homosexuality, women in the
priesthood, political activism of
priests and distribution of ecclesias–
tical power have greatly troubled
the Church.
Many even in the upper echelons
of the Vatican hierarchy have
expressed apprehension over the
Church's future.
At the same time, the continent
of Europe itself stands at an histor–
ie crossroads. Divided ideologically
between East and West and beset
with serious economic and military
concerns, Europe faces crucial
decisions on its future.
Like the Catholic Church,
Europe has been weakened by divi–
sion. And both prelates and politi–
cians alike realize that a house
divided against itself
cannot
stand.
In the face of this division, voices
within both European political cir–
cles and the Catholic Church are
appealing for
UNITY.
But
how,
many ask, is that elusive unity to be
achieved? How are the rifts to be
healed- both within the Church
and within Europe itself?
The record of the recent past
does not augur well for the future.
On a purely political basis, the
nation s of E u rope have been
unable to unite. Strides have been
made, bu t the slow process of
gradually increasing the powers of
the EEC's political institutions
has not worked as hoped. The pro–
cess has resulted in only mínima!
surrender of nat ional political sov–
ereignty. The institutions are
invested with no substantial
powers. And Eastern Europe is
still cut off.
Likewise, the Catholic Church
within remains philosophically di–
vided between liberal and conserva–
tive, despite the best efforts of uni–
ty-minded churchmen.
Confronted with these realities,
Ieading European politicians and
The
PLAIN TRUTH