The Church and the urgent Mission to recover the "Soul" of Europe

Abstract

During the middle of the last century, Robert Schuman, the French Catholic politician of German-Luxembourg origin, and one of the fathers of Europe, spoke of the «supplement of the soul» which the European continent needs. Today, perhaps more than «supplement», it needs «an entire soul» (Cardinal Lustiger). In reverting back to this metaphor, I would like to expose the deep cultural, moral and spiritual crisis (much more than economic and financial) that the European continent is confronting, and to enquire as to how it affects the Church, and how the Church can help Europe (in what way and how?) «not to miss the opportunity of the present», to snap out of its «demoralization» and to recover its «soul» and its «mission». Two phenomena, very difficult and challenging, in a state of virulence, can serve as a basis of proof and radical questioning of the current identity and mission of Europe: Jihadist terrorist attacks on fundamental freedoms and the humanitarian crisis of thousands of refugees and immigrants who, fleeing from war, violence and misery, are desperately trying to reach Europe. Both issues are enormously complex, resist any attempt at simplification, and possess an extremely high potential for destabilization. Both raise far-reaching questions concerning our way of life and the values that we say that we defend and practice. I believe that the Church has something to say on both issues and a testimony on life to set forth, if she «goes forth» (Evangelii gaudium, 20).