Parliamentary Assembly

Mr President, Mr Secretary General, ladies and gentlemen, some seven years ago, on 8 October 1988, Pope John Paul II was received in this hall on the occasion of his visit to the European institutions in Strasbourg. Today I have the same honour and I make it my first duty to express heartfelt thanks to the current President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Mr Miguel Angel Martinez, and to you, the distinguished representatives of the parliaments of the thirty-six member countries, observers and guests.

The kind and cordial words that your President has addressed to me are, in my opinion, meant much more for Pope John Paul II and his assistants than for myself. In the seven years since the Pope’s visit to this institution much has changed in Europe. Even the configuration of this Parliamentary Assembly has changed. We now see members from new countries who have given this Organisation a broader outlook and a stronger determination to pursue European unity.

Today we are living in a new Europe, but we also face new challenges. We see new opportunities for material and spiritual progress – and at the same time, new dangers. The old oak still stretches wide its strong branches but it is exposed to winds which buffet it from without and to ills which threaten it from within.

When Pope John Paul II visited the Assembly on the eve of the collapse of the system of blocs which made 1989 the year of new and decisive changes, he made this memorable observation: “If Europe wants to be faithful to itself, it must be able to join all the living forces of this continent, respecting the original character of each region, but rediscovering at its roots a common spirit [...] in expressing my fervent desire to see an increase in co-operation with other nations, particularly those of the centre and east, I am convinced that I give voice to the desire of millions of men and women who know that they are bound together by a common history and who look forward to a future of unity and solidarity commensurate with the greatness of this continent.”

The Popes have also taken an interest in the activities of the Council of Europe, its Parliamentary Assembly and its Commission and Court of Human Rights. For this reason the Holy See, which has been present in the Council of Europe for twenty-five years in the form of its permanent mission, knows and appreciates the efforts that this Organisation has made to become a truly pan-European organisation. The establishment of the Council of Europe created a space in Europe marked by respect for the principles of the rule of law, for constitutional principles and for human rights. The Council of Europe has successfully faced the challenges of its expansion and has helped to assist, support and promote the democratic reforms undertaken by the countries of central and eastern Europe. For its part, the Holy See wants to contribute to the progress of the continent by providing that additional spiritual element that every society needs.

As I said, since 1990 a new Europe has been born. The coming together of the two parts of Europe, long divided into blocs marked by different conceptions of the state and of social systems, cannot be brought about unilaterally. In a sense, the membership of new countries not only involves a growth of this European Institution but provides an important opportunity to gain a better understanding of its identity. If we wish the meeting of cultures and traditions to be fruitful, constructive and peaceful we must hope that it will be accompanied by a deeper understanding of the values and principles of law that are held in common by the people of this continent.

Together with many outstanding figures in politics, diplomacy, culture, art and science, and with members of other religious confessions, the Popes who have succeeded to the See of Peter in recent times have constantly sought to promote a common European identity based on the civilisation that, coming from Greece and Rome, took root in the Celtic, Germanic and Slav peoples and greatly developed down the centuries, thanks to the vital contribution of Christianity, which has been of enormous influence in forging a conception of the world and of man that is typical of this continent.

As I stand before you, the worthy representatives of most of the peoples of Europe, I wish to express some hopes for the future. Your Institution is particularly concerned with questions of law – working for a solution to the most sensitive problems of society, helping to modernise law and to adapt it to new needs in society, favouring the juridical promotion and protection of common values, and harmonising the legislation of different nations. I am pleased to recall in particular two important conventions – the Framework Convention for the Protection of Minorities and the European convention on bioethics.

Political wisdom consists in foreseeing conflicts as well as solving them. To that end, the Council of Europe has created a juridical instrument that benefits minorities while respecting the prerogatives of states. That represents a significant contribution to peace through the establishment of a juridical order that will certainly affect the future political organisation of Europe.

The draft convention on bioethics has the great merit of attempting to establish general norms in an area where today’s juridical vacuum is a source of great concern. The future convention will be a valuable and important text precisely because it will provide a model and point of reference even outside the European context. A great responsibility lies with those individuals who are drafting that document and with those who will have to adopt it – a responsibility that is not only juridical but ethical and political.

Europe’s social aspect is a constant concern of the churches of Europe. Given the disintegration of the social fabric, the increase in unemployment and the growing marginalisation of a part of Europe’s peoples, I praise the efforts and initiatives of the Council of Europe in those areas – particularly its campaign against racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance launched by the Vienna Summit in October 1993 and effectively implemented this year. Similarly, I commend the work of the Council of Europe in social cohesion and its fight against all forms of poverty, exclusion and marginalisation. I congratulate the Council on its good co-operation with non-governmental organisations.

In that exciting yet challenging project, the Holy See is happy to share in your work and it will continue to offer its specific contribution. In a special way, it will faithfully recall the transcendent dimension of man. In reality, human rights are rooted in the universal nature of human reason, which is not detached from the transcendent. To affirm such a realism of human rights is not to deny but to confirm the importance of the Council of Europe’s dedication to the cause of democracy – specifically in translating them into international conventions, thus protecting human rights whenever they are violated.

The Catholic Church in no way threatens democratic freedoms when she affirms the transcendence of man, as she is herself at the service of that transcendence. The Church has been given the mission of serving man in every aspect of his being and particularly in his spiritual vocation. She offers her vision of the person, with confidence that that vision can be shared on the level of reason and law in a sincere and respectful dialogue, with every point of view truly concerned with the defence and promotion of human dignity.

I want to express, in the name of the Holy See, the hope that everyone responsible for the future of Europe will always foster that transcendent vision of man, which is also the common historical heritage of Christians, Jews and Muslims. It provides the elements that have enabled the peoples of the west and east and of the north and south of Europe to find meaning in daily life, the human person, the family and the foundation of our civilisation. Unfortunately, during the present century those values were trampled on by totalitarian ideologies that plunged us into fratricidal wars and appalling tragedies in which millions of men and women fell victim to those who refused to recognise the dignity of the human person. Whenever the basic ethical values of European culture have been forgotten people have come to exalt ethnic grouping, class, race or the state and thus to lay the foundations for the tragedies that we have endured.

Only by rediscovering the fundamental values of our 2 000-year-old history shall we find the inspiration needed to build a better future for our continent. Sharing the spirit of those people of goodwill who first sought to reconcile and bring together the peoples of the continent, the Holy See has not ceased, since the beginning of the European movement, to encourage the building of Europe.

The Christian Churches themselves have created structures on the continental level. As to the Catholic Church, I must make mention of the Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe, which was established in 1971 to promote communication and co-operation between the episcopates of the whole continent. The election two years ago of a president from one of the countries of central Europe, the Archbishop of Prague, is a testimony to the commitment of the Church in Europe to the implementation of an effective exchange of the gifts between East and West.

In our own day, we can even say that the building of Europe has become a factor which calls for, encourages and manifests ecumenism between the Christian Churches as well as dialogue and co-operation with the other religious confessions present on this continent. In the building of Europe, the path of ecumenism is of great importance. It seems to me that I should mention in this regard the prayer meeting for Bosnia held in Assisi, the joint steps taken by the religious confessions present in the area of the Balkan conflict, the meeting in Graz, planned for 1997, on the subject of reconciliation organised jointly by the Conference of Christian Churches and the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe.

The encouragement given to the ecumenical movement by the recent Encyclical Ut Unum Sint of Pope John Paul II, while principally aimed at the rapprochement of the Christian confessions worldwide, will certainly have positive and fruitful Consequences for Europe.

Permit me therefore to express the hope that Catholics and Orthodox, Protestants and Anglicans, Christians of all confessions will contribute to making the leaven of the Gospels bring new life to our civilisation. This is an estimable work, one to which the leaders of Europe’s future should pay greater attention, so that the tree which has already borne such abundant fruit will produce even more, in the service of the peoples of Europe.

In this context, it will be easy to see why the Holy See is concerned about the presence of certain evident tendencies in the areas of individual rights, the definition of the family, and respect for life.

Therefore, I would express the hope that Europe will continue to cultivate the value of life and the family. You are well aware of the problems on this subject, and you are often called upon to reflect on questions which are essentially ethical in nature.

In 1988, in this very place, Pope John Paul stated: “It is necessary never to lose sight of the dignity of the person, from the first moment of conception to the final stages of illness or the most serious dimming of the mental faculties. You will understand that I am repeating here the Church’s conviction: the human being always has value as a person because life is God’s gift. The weakest have the right to your protection, care and affection on the part of those near to them and a right to the support of society.”

When we think of European families, we must acknowledge that society has made it difficult for them to maintain their balance and their stability. And together with the crisis of the family, we are naturally witnessing a striking decline in population.

You are well aware of the great importance which Catholics attribute to the family. For his part, Pope John Paul II addressed to the world his Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio and subsequently, through various initiatives, took part in the celebration of the Year of the Family sponsored by the United Nations. The celebration of the Year of the Family took on a certain importance in the countries of Europe too.

When I consider the make-up of the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly, I am prompted to express another hope: the hope that in a short time still other states may be able to join this Council, so as to ensure that Europe really does become a common home for all the peoples of the continent.

Obviously, states which aspire to entry will have to commit themselves to respect for human rights, upon which membership in this Institution rests. Certainly these rights, so clearly enshrined in the Universal Declaration of the United Nations in 1948 and in the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950, have become the common patrimony of modern states. But, as you rightly insist, these rights need to be set-down effectively in the constitutions and legislation of the different states, and duly applied in the life of each national community.

The Holy See believes that the implementation of the commitments undertaken by all member countries at the moment of entry is more relevant than ever for the strengthening of this Europe of law and of peoples. Consequently, the Holy See encourages the efforts currently being made by this institution to develop more effective methods of verifying that those commitments are respected, and for making the decisions of the Court of Human Rights speedier and thus more effective.

Finally, allow me to express a wish: that there will soon be respect for human rights also in the Balkans, whose peoples are suffering appalling violations of their human rights. The events that have taken place in the former Yugoslavia during the last four years have represented a setback for European civilisation and above all a denial of the juridical principles which ought to be the basis of co-existence between individuals and nations.

It began in the summer of 1991, when the decision was made to replace the rights of peoples with the roar of cannons, and attempts were made to resolve by force of arms what should have been resolved by the force of law. As a result we have witnessed the greatest tragedy that has taken place in Europe from the end of the second world war until the present day. The violations of the most elementary human rights are well known to all. We need but refer to the reports which Mr Mazowiecki has presented to the United Nations.

Before this distinguished Assembly, it only remains for me to express the hope that, henceforth, the primacy both of law and of negotiation will prevail over brutal force and mistrust, and that the deeply afflicted peoples of the different Balkan states will quickly be able to enjoy the peace to which they so legitimately aspire.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, these are the hopes which in the name of the Holy See I have wished to express in your presence today. I thank you for the contribution which you are already making to the building of a new Europe, in freedom and justice, in harmony and solidarity, and I ask you to persevere resolutely along this path.

May Almighty God bless your work in the service of Europe. Thank you.