Europe Day – 9 May 2025

Disarm   

‘We must disarm words, to disarm minds and disarm the Earth. There is a great need for reflection, for calmness, and for a sense of complexity’. These words of Pope Francis were published on 14 March ‘25 in an Italian newspaper. And he concluded his letter by stating that ‘religions can draw on the spirituality of peoples, to rekindle the desire for brotherhood and justice, the hope for peace. All this calls for commitment, work, silence, and words’.

Will we succeed? The success of a Europe as we dream it requires the contribution of each and every one of us, in our daily lives. The social fabric is ours, of us citizens of the different European countries. And as Christians we have in our DNA the call to walk together, even if this requires effort, tenacity, continuity, indeed ‘commitment, work, silence, and words’.

The forthcoming Europe Day can be an opportunity to commit ourselves together, as Movements and Communities, to witness that our common roots, our faith in the Risen One who constantly journeys with us, can enhance harmony, respect for diversity, mutual esteem, patience, and fraternity. Let us support our peoples with the charisms we have freely received. Let us put them into play. Europe, the world, awaits.