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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, DECEMBER 27, 1982
PAGE 10
its peoples of the right to meet one another in a climate of
friendship, and to combine freely their creative efforts..•.
Civil society is characterized by the effects of secularized
ideologies which are based on the denial of God or the limita
tions of religious liberty and extend to the overwhelming impor
tance attributed to economic success as opposed to the importance
given to the huma�values of work and of production; effects that
range from materialism and hedonism which attack the values of a
large and united family-;---of life from the moment of conception,
and the moral protection of youth, to a "nihilism" which disarms
the will to face crucial problems such as those of the new poor,
emigrants, ethnic and religious minorities, the appropriate use
of the mass media, while it places arms in the hands of terror
ists.
Furthermore, Europe is divided from the religious point of view:
not so much nor principally by reason of the divisions which
occurred throughout the centuries, as by the fact that the bap
tized and believers lack� profound grasp of their faith and the
doctrinal and moral strength of that Christian vision of life
which guarantees a sense of balance to individuals and communi
ties.
Find yourself again
Therefore, I, John Paul, son of the Polish nation which has al
ways considered itself European by its origins, traditions, cul
ture and vital relationships, Slavic among the Latins and Latin
among the Slavs; I, Successor of Peter in the See of Rome, A See
which Christ wished to establish in Europe and which he loves be
cause of its efforts for the spread of Christianity throughout
the whole world; I, Bishop of Rome and Shepherd of the Universal
Church, from Santiago, utter to you, Europe of the ages, � �
full of love: Find yourself again. Be yourself. Discover your
origins, revive your roots. Return to those authentic values
which made your history a glorious one and your presence so bene
ficent in the other continents.
Rebuild your spiritual unity in� climate of complete respect for
other genuine liberties. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,
and to God what belongs to God. Do not become so proud of your
achievements that you forget their possible negative effects. Do
not become discouraged for the quantitative loss of some of your
greatness in the world or for the social and cultural crises
which affect you today.
You� still be the guiding light of
civilization and the stimulus of progress for the world.
The
other continents look to you and also hope to receive from you
the same reply which James gave to Christ: "I can do it."
Shaping a new world
If Europe is one, and it can be so with due respect for all �ts
differences, including those of different political systems; 1f,
in the realm specifically that of religion, Europe returns to
acting with an appropriate knowledge of and respect for God, on