2005 - Incontro internazionale a Rosazzo
MEETING OF ROSAZZO
Members of the MEIC (Movimento Ecclesiale di Impegno Culturale) of Udine with their spiritual assistant mons. Franco Frilli, of the SKI (Slovenski katoliški izobraženci) of Lubiana and of the KAV (Katholischer Akademikerverband) of Klagenfurt are met Sunday May 8 in the suggestive seat of the Rosazzo's abbey for a meeting of friendship and for exchanging their thoughts on the construction of a new culture and a new European conscience.
The theologian mons. Marino Qualizza has led a reflection about Europe in the light of the Holy Scriptures and the message of the present pontiff Benedict XVI, underlining particularly the meanings of liberty, alliance, friendship.
After the celebration of the Saint Mass and a cheerful convivial moment, the two groups have elaborated and approved the following
The theologian mons. Marino Qualizza has led a reflection about Europe in the light of the Holy Scriptures and the message of the present pontiff Benedict XVI, underlining particularly the meanings of liberty, alliance, friendship.
After the celebration of the Saint Mass and a cheerful convivial moment, the two groups have elaborated and approved the following
JOINT STATEMENT
Today May 8, 2005, we members of SKI of Ljubljana (Slovenia), KAV of Klagenfurt (Carinthia, Austria), MEIC of Udine (Friuli, Italy), have met at the Abbey of Rosazzo (Udine), an ancient place of reference of Christian populations of these lands, continuing a tradition initiated quite long ago, in order to exchange our experiences and share our reflections, thus contributing to the construction of a new European culture and a new European conscience.
As pointed out by the Apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Europa of His Holiness the late Pope John Paul II, we have today in Europe an attempt to promote a vision of man apart from God and apart from Christ. Such views give way to the unrestrained development of nihilism in philosophy, of relativism in values and morality, and of pragmatism and even a cynical hedonism in daily life. Therefore, we underline the necessity that Europe become conscious of her spiritual inheritance and relive it. This inheritance is found in fundamental values of social life, acquired through a decisive contribution of Christianity, and can be summarised in the affirmation of the transcendent dignity of every human person, the value of reason, freedom, democracy, the constitutional state and the distinction between political life and faith. Traces of this inheritance are evident in art, literature, thought and culture of European nations.
The new Pope, his holiness Benedict XVI, in the homily of the eucharistic celebration "pro eligendo Pontifice " put, too, in evidence the danger of the dominant relativism and the necessity of better directing the commitment of the believers toward the rediscovery of the fundamental values of the human life.
We agree that it is necessary to pay attention to the construction of peace. The two World Wars which led to bloodshed in Europe have once more demonstrated to everyone how fragile the peace is, how it requires an active commitment of all of us, and how it can be ensured only by opening up new prospects of exchange, forgiveness and reconciliation between individuals, peoples and nations.
Our next commitment will be the Ecumenicalism: in fact in Europe, which is proceeding towards political unity, can we accept that the Church of Christ is itself a factor of division and of discord? Would this not be one of the greatest scandals of our time?. ( John Paul II, Homily during the Ecumenical Celebration on the occasion of the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops - December, 7, 1991)
We think it is our duty to contribute to build an open and welcoming continent; Europe cannot close in on itself. It cannot and must not lose interest in the rest of the world. On the contrary, it must remain fully aware of the fact that other countries, other continents, await its bold initiatives, in order to offer to poorer peoples the means for their growth and social organisation, and to build a more just and fraternal world (John Paul II, Letter to Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, President of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences - October 16, 2000),
Moreover, Europe must become an active partner in promoting and implementing a globalisation in solidarity. The global market needs to be appropriately controlled by the State and the society at large in order to guarantee the basic needs of each and everybody.
We commit ourselves to following these perspectives in our local churches and to exchange the gifts of our own experiences at regular meetings.
We send a deferential regard to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI who is so deeply committed to these themes, with the assurance that we will pray for him and we will humbly work in the vineyard of the Lord in accordance with his will.
We extend our sincere gratitude and best wishes to the shepherds of our three local Churches: Mons. Alojz Uran (Ljubljana), Mons. Alois Schwarz (Klagenfurt) and Mons. Pietro Brollo (Udine).