Catholics call on politicians to work for peace and maintain Europe’s Christian roots

Rome, Italy, Apr 12, 2007 / 09:34 am

Participants at the international congress “Values and Perspectives for the Europe of Tomorrow,” organized by the Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Community on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, called on European political leaders to remain committed to peace and to the Christian roots of the region.

More than 400 delegates from the different European bishops’ conferences, religious communities and Catholic movements and organizations, as well as of other Christian churches, participated in the event.

Addressing the heads of states of the different countries of the EU, the president of the European Parliament and the president of the European Commission, participants recalled the importance of remaining solidly committed to the unity of the continent with the signing and ratifying of the Treaties of Rome and the successive European accords.

“Today, the European Union again faces important challenges to overcome in order to guarantee its own future.  International cooperation must be developed in order to combat poverty, especially in Africa, the exploitation of women and of children, as well as the violation of human rights,” participants said.

Likewise, they emphasized the need to respond to the growing expectations of citizens of the EU amidst today’s globalization and to maintain adequate social protection, so that more and more young people truly become the greatest wealth of the Europe.

Lastly, they expressed their commitment to “sustaining initiatives that authentically respect human nature created in the image and likeness of god, as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.”