VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope John Paul II has cited a lack of hope as the most urgent issue faced by the people of Europe.
The Christian roots of European culture must be recognised not only in the new constitution of the European Union, but first of all in the way European Christians live their lives, the Pope said.
“Europe needs to make a qualitative leap in becoming conscious of its spiritual heritage,” he said in his apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in Europa (The Church in Europe).
The document, signed by the Pope on June 28 during an evening prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica, is the Pope’s response to the discussion and proposals of European bishops who met for a special continental synod in 1999.
The Pope said the discussions highlighted “grave uncertainties at the levels of culture, anthropology, ethics and spirituality”.
“Possibly the most urgent matter Europe faces, in both East and West, is a growing need for hope, a hope which will enable us to give meaning to life and history and to continue on our way together,” he wrote.
Pope John Paul II cited as signs of a lack of hope in many European countries a falling birth rate and widespread acceptance of abortion, declining Church attendance, a lack of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, an increasing divorce rate, and growing acceptance of euthanasia.
Pope John Paul reiterated the value of the Church’s requirement that priests in the Latin rite be celibate.
“In the present cultural context, it stands out as an eloquent sign which needs to be cherished as a precious good for the Church,” he said.
“A revision of the present discipline in this regard would not help to resolve the crisis of vocations to the priesthood being felt in many parts of Europe,” the Pope said.
