Encounter. Reconciliation. Future.
This was the title of the fourth International Event of Together for Europe which took place in Munich, Bavaria.
The journey began with a Congress from June 30 to July 1, 2016, for members of over 300 Movements and Communities which are involved – two hundred of these were represented at the Congress which was held in the Circus Krone Building.
There were plenary sessions in the morning and in the afternoon, 17 Forums and 19 Round Tables on various topics related to current critical situations such as refugees and their integration, ecumenism, the environment, dialogue with Islam, the economic crisis and the search for the common good, as well as the difficult relationships among European countries … drawing 1,700 participants from 32 countries of Europe and beyond.
In the afternoon of July 2 in the popular “Karlsplatz (Stachus)” square, over 5,000 people including many youths got together for an Outdoor Rally.
Powerful were the testimonies of reconciliation along the journey of 15 years as part of Together for Europe; the brotherly embrace between leading representatives of the Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox Churches was poignant and full of hope.
“Unity is possible” – this is what the people saw and experienced, both in the square and in various parts of the world connected by live-streaming in over 7000 listening points.
The video messages of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I were compelling and visionary. The stage was vibrant with the bands and choirs of young people of different nationalities.
The centerpiece of the stage was a door which “opened up to the future” as a symbol of the journey undertaken so far and the future towards which all wished to travel, to reach a full sharing of the values that are rooted in the Gospel.
Those familiar with Together for Europe know that this is not just an event but a process towards unity in diversity that started in 1999.
It involves a growing number of Movements and Communities – to date more than 300 – a confident minority that comes from various Churches in different European countries.
Through encounter and reconciliation, this process has produced results: communities and movements experience encounter and discover that they are complementary; mutual trust brings about change.
Munich’s edition of Together for Europe was backed up by solid moments of reflection, much discussion, and sharing of views and experiences.
Of significant importance is the conference entitled “Europe, what identity, what values,” organized by the World Council of Churches and the Focolare Movement.
The Munich event was held under the patronage of UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the European Commission.
Pope Francis’ Message
for Together for Europe
Dear Friends in Together for Europe, I know that you are gathered in Munich, Bavaria, and from many Movements and Groups, for your meeting called “Encounter – Reconciliation – Future”.
You are right! It is time to get together, to face the problems of our day with a true European spirit.
Apart from some visible walls, other invisible walls are being strengthened which tend to divide our continent. These walls are being built in people’s hearts.
They are walls made of fear and aggression, a failure to understand people of different backgrounds or faith. They are walls of political and economic selfishness, without respect for the life and dignity of every person.
Europe finds itself in a complex and highly mobile world, which is ever more globalised and therefore ever less Eurocentric. If we are aware of these momentous issues, then we must have the courage to say: we need change! Europe is called to reflect and to ask itself whether its immense heritage, so permeated with Christianity, belongs in a museum or is still able to inspire culture and to offer its treasures to the whole of humankind.
You are meeting so as to look together at these challenges facing Europe and to highlight testimonies of life in society which enable networking, so as to welcome and show solidarity towards those who are weak and disadvantaged, to build bridges and to overcome conflicts whether they are open or latent.
Europe’s history is an ongoing encounter between Heaven and earth.
Heaven indicates openness to the Transcendent, to God, which has always been characteristic of European peoples.
Earth represents their practical and concrete ability to address situations and problems.
You too, Christian communities and movements which began in Europe, are bearers of many charisms, which are gifts of God to be made available to others.
“Together for Europe” is a unifying power with the clear aim of translating the basic values of Christianity into concrete responses to the challenges of a continent in crisis.
Your lifestyle is based on mutual love, lived out with Gospel radicalness.
A culture of reciprocity means talking things over, esteeming one another, welcoming one another, and helping one another.
It means appreciating the diversity of charisms so as to move together towards unity and enrich it.
The tangible and clear presence of Christ among you is the witness which leads to faith.
Every authentic unity draws on the wealth of diversity which forms it – like a family which grows in unity in so far as its members can fully and fearlessly be themselves.
If Europe as a whole wants to be a family of peoples, it should put the human person back at the center; it should be an open and welcoming continent, and continue to establish ways of working together that are not only economic but also social and cultural.
God always brings newness.
You have experienced this so often in your lives! Are we open to surprises today too? You, who have answered the Lord’s call courageously, are called to show his newness in your lives and bring to life the fruits of the Gospel, fruits that have grown from Christian roots which for the last 2,000 years have nourished Europe.
And you will bear even greater fruit! Maintain the freshness of your charisms; continue to be “Together” and extend it further! Make your homes, communities and cities into workshops of communion, friendship and fraternity, which can bring people together and be open to the whole world.
Together for Europe? Today this is more than ever necessary.
In a Europe made up of many nations, you bear witness to the fact that we are children of one Father and brothers and sisters to one another. You are a precious seed of hope, so that Europe can rediscover its vocation to contribute to the unity of all.
Original text in Italian.
Translation by ZENIT
UNITY is possible
Speech by Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, at the Public Event
of Together for Europe, July 2, 2016. Munich, Germany
“Unity is possible.” Is this an absurd affirmation today, in a Europe marked by global terrorism, a multiplication of wars, migrations of biblical proportions and growing intolerance? Are we talking about a dream, a utopia? No.
We are talking about an experience which several Movements and Christian communities in Europe have already been living for over 15 years, bearing witness that unity is possible. We have experienced that there is something indestructible and timeless which binds us: it is Love, God who is Love.
This Love has opened our eyes and our hearts to embrace the fears, tears and hopes of this continent. In all that is negative, which seems to overwhelm us, we perceive the pain that God who became man suffered on the cross and through which he showed his limitless love and gave us the hope of resurrection.
Three key words characterise this event: meeting, reconciliation, future.We can meet one another because God came to meet us first through his incarnation. We can be reconciled with one another because on the cross Jesus reconciled us with God and among ourselves.
We can walk securely towards the future because the One who conquered death is walking in our midst and is leading us towards European unity and the unity of the world, until his prayer “May they all be one” is fulfilled (John 17:21).
It is worthwhile committing our lives to such for such a high goal. Together we want to ask forgiveness for the divisions of the past which caused wars and death in Europe.
Together we want to bear witness to our unity, while respecting the beauty and diversity of our Churches and communities.
Together we want to be at the service of something new which is needed today so as to make progress once more on the European path.
What we can offer – by committing our lives – is the newness of the Gospel. Before dying Jesus prayed: “Father, may they all be one.” He showed that we are all brothers and sisters, that one “single human family” is possible; that unity is possible; that unity is our destiny.
We commit ourselves here, today, to be catalysts of this change, catalysts for a new vision for Europe, so as to speed up the journey towards unity by starting a profound dialogue with and for all the men and women on earth.
Dialogue can happen because of the so-called “Golden Rule” which says “Do not do to others what you would not wish done to you” (Cf Lk 6:31).
Basically it means to love. And if love becomes mutual it brings fraternity to its fullness among all. In universal fraternity Europe can rediscover its vocation.
In the 1950’s Chiara Lubich wrote “if one day all peoples were able to set themselves aside, setting aside the idea they have of their own homeland … for the sake of the mutual love among states which God asks of us, just as he asks mutual love among brothers and sisters, that day will be the start of a new era.”
So let’s live for this new era! Unity is possible!
