Vatican City, 5 March 2015 (VIS) –
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with
States, gave an address in Bratislava, Slovakia today, during the
meeting of the legal advisers of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe,
(C.E.C.E.). The prelate focused on the challenges the Church faces
today, and on Pope Francis' two addresses to the European Parliament
and the Council of Europe on 25 November 2014.
Archbishop Gallagher emphasised that
“at the centre of the Pope's considerations in Strasbourg was his
affirmation of the dignity of the human person” and respect for
human rights not for political reasons, but because “they are
engraved in the heart of every human person”. He continued, “the
Pope reminds us of the Christian roots of our continent … and
exhorts the members of the European Parliament as the time has come
to work together in building a Europe that revolves not around the
economy, but around the sacredness of the human person, around
inalienable values”, and added, “the time has come for us to
abandon the idea of a Europe that is fearful and self-absorbed, in
order to revive and encourage a Europe of leadership, a repository of
science, art, music, human values and faith as well”.
He went on to highlight the worrying
conditions of migrants who seek protection for their lives and
families on our continent, a major challenge for Europe which greatly
concerns the Pope. “The absence of mutual support within the
European Union runs the risk of encouraging particularistic solutions
to the problem, solutions which fail to take into account the human
dignity of immigrants, and thus contribute to slave labour and
continuing social tensions. … Christianity has to perform her
mission in Europe, and the Cathlic Church especially, in which the
unity of cultural differences is found, can offer tangible help to
unite and strengthen the national family of Europe”.
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