It’s October 16 in the morning and we are in one of the meeting rooms at the European Parliament. “It’s very clear that something is happening when people of peace are talking”, comments Catarina Martins, Portuguese MEP, beginning her concluding presentation of the DialogUE Project, in which Together for Europe is participating. “This is precisely this kind of moment”, Ms Martins continues, “Dialogue is a powerful instrument of peace”
Present are 50 representatives of the Project’s partners: people involved in European institutions, religious leaders, and also from civil society. The purpose of the meeting is to present recommendations to the European Union, which are summarised in the brochure “DialogUE Kit” >>
During the two year project, four dialogue groups have collaborated in three main areas: communication, ecology and social policy.
The groups were the following:
Christians of various Churches, through the Together for Europe network
Catholics and Muslims, through the Focolare Movement’s Centre for Interreligious Dialogue
Catholics and people with no formal faith, through the DIALOP platform for transversal dialogue
Citizens from Western and Eastern Europe, through the Multipolar Dialogue group
The project aimed to transmit the importance of, and the methodologies needed for, fruitful dialogue. It brought together international expertise in these three key areas, helping the participants to understand the main documents of the UE on these topics, and to explore their various dimensions. About 10,000 people from 23 European countries took part.
Its full title: “DialogUE: Diverse Identities Allied, Open to generate a United Europe”. The final discussion showed how necessary it is to be close to the institutions, in order to share ideas and projects which promote more inclusive and sustainable policies.
In the afternoon of the same day, a discussion was held at the KU Leuven (University of Louvain) in Brussels, where the participants analysed some of the good practices that emerged from the project and spoke about how these practices could be spread through the “DialogUE Kit”. The event was streamed lived and is available on Youtube>>
On this occasion, Together for Europe (TfE) has joined forces with an important Orthodox Association – the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) – as well as with the Focolare Movement and JC2033, a Movement that calls for an ecumenical journey towards 2033, the Jubilee of 2000 years since Jesus’ resurrection.
Gerhard Pross, moderator of TfE, presented the initiative ‘Easter Together 2025’ to the Patriarch. ‘It is our desire that faith be the foundation of Europe,’ he said, ’indeed, we believe that the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea is an excellent opportunity to focus on Christian unity, because the Nicene Creed is our common confession of faith. That is why we want to support all that is being done, so that a new fire can be kindled and the risen Christ can be witnessed on a large scale’.
A meeting with Pope Francis is planned in Nicaea in 2025
In his reply, Patriarch Bartholomew announced that an Ecumenical Commission is working on the programme for the commemoration of the shared Easter and the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council. The commission has already visited Iznick – the Turkish name for Nicaea – and examined the conditions.
The Mayor of Nicaea is very supportive and ready to collaborate with this Commission. An invitation was also extended to Pope Francis. From what he remembers, this will be their 13th meeting. He also stressed that the date of Easter is not a matter of dogma or faith, but of astronomical calculation.
The meaning of ecumenism
The initiator of the ‘Easter Together 2025’ project is the I.A.O.. Ioan Vulpescu, its new President (and former Romanian Minister of Education), recalled the meaning of the word ‘ecumenism’ (oikoumene): that is, the inhabited world, the earth conceived as a home where all peoples, all tribes and all languages live. The mission of the I.A.O. is to make every believer, wherever he or she is, in whatever state and within whatever society, feel safe at home. An ‘oikoumene’ to be built through dialogue!
‘Blessed are the peacemakers’
The Patriarch praised the I.A.O.’s efforts to promote Christian values and strengthen dialogue between peoples. He also emphasised its role in defending human rights and promoting peaceful coexistence, in the spirit of love of Christ who said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God’. He observed with great sadness the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which not only threatens the stability of the region, but is also causing new divisions within the Orthodox Church. He constantly prays for peace and reconciliation.
The Audience with Pope Francis
Less than a week later, on 19th September, the same delegation was received in audience by Pope Francis in Rome. He expressed his joy at the work done and at seeing us together, Christians representing all the families of the Churches. He shared the hope that ‘the common celebration of the Day of the Resurrection may no longer be an exception, but rather become the norm.’ And he encouraged those involved in the search for a shared agreement, ‘avoiding anything that may instead lead to further divisions’.
Speaking on behalf of ‘Easter Together 2025’, Ioan Vulpescu, president of I.A.O., emphasised the positive message that a shared date for Easter could bring to a Europe in crisis. It is wonderful that parliamentarians care about the unity of the Church and its witness in society.
Easter belongs to Christ!
It was touching that Pope Francis took the time to greet us personally, refraining from reading the speech he had prepared (click here to read it>>>>).
Finally, the most important thing for him is not the calendar, but witnessing together the resurrection of Christ, which manifests God’s love for all humanity. ‘Above all’, he continued, ‘Easter does not take place by our own initiative or by one calendar or another. …. Easter belongs to Christ! Moreover, it is good for us to ask for the grace to be ever more his disciples…
Let us therefore seek to reflect, share and plan together, keeping Jesus before us, grateful for his call and eager, in unity, to become his witnesses, so that the world may believe’.
In 2018, you participated in the Friends of Together for Europe meeting in Prague. Shortly afterwards you entered politics. Is there a relationship between these two facts?
Sure! And it is a very important relationship for me. If one wants to live politics with the ideal of service, one needs to get to know other politicians who have the same goal. The possibility of creating a ‘positive network’ with others also during the meeting in Prague helped me a lot at the beginning of my political life. And it still helps me.
What motivated you to get involved in politics?
Seeing and understanding how much effort it takes. Politics is a specific field, which touches the life of each one of us. And it is crucial that only those men and women who want to put themselves at the service of others enter politics. Otherwise, one leaves room for those who seek only power. I try to invite other friends into politics, especially young ones.
How do you deal with disappointments if working ‘together’ is not successful and certain opinions/views seem irreconcilable?
Politics is in need of good ideals! If these are missing, it only becomes a ‘technocracy’, and later an ‘autocracy’ of someone, who instead of ‘together’ puts ‘I by myself’. Not everyone is seeking ‘togetherness’. However, we are called upon to do our best, because we believe that this ‘togetherness’ is exactly what our world needs. We strive to do well our part and leave the rest in the hands of the Lord.
You were a candidate in the European elections. You were only a few votes away from being elected. Had you been elected, what would you have committed yourself to in the first place?
For four years I have been the Vice-President of our regional government. The region is called ‘Southern Bohemia’ I am mainly involved in agriculture and ecology; if I had been elected to the European Parliament, I would have been a member of these committees (AGRI and ENVI). The election campaign was a wonderful time in my life. In our list, the top six were elected: I was in seventh place. But I am sure that the Lord knows why. So, I look forward to seeing where he invites me next time.
The democratic values seem to be overshadowed. How could Together for Europe contribute to politics?
The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is that few engage in politics. I know cities where nobody wants to be mayor. If no democratic politician will do it, an extremist will come along and take this space for himself. This may also happen in our parliaments. The most important thing is to invite new men and women to engage in politics, ready to ‘put their hands in the pie’ and serve others through politics. Helping people understand this responsibility is something that Together for Europe could contribute to my generation.
At the big Together for Europe meeting in Stuttgart in 2007 I realised for the first time that there are convinced and committed Christians in other Churches with whom I immediately connected. Moreover, I experienced a rich and varied life, full of joy. I would like to promote this life also in my environment.
How are you preparing for the next meeting and what is your personal experience?
We continually entrust our requests to God in a prayer we have formulated together. We booked lodgings and the conference centre and also found a company to provide translation equipment. A band is being formed for the musical programme. Some of us participate in the international online meetings of the teams dedicated to the programme and organisation, which each time give us inspiration. To keep costs down, we are looking for sponsors; some we have already found.
We are very happy that, in addition to the supporters of Together for Europe, our friends who care about the unity of the different Christian communities and unity in Europe can also attend the meeting. Those who wish to get to know our network are also invited; we are surprised by the many positive reactions. People in positions of responsibility in Churches and politics are also showing interest. I am amazed at how many good things are possible in mutual love, which is the basis for our decisions.
Europe is increasingly less Christian. How can we convey to people the importance of the cohesion of the European peoples?
I would spontaneously say that we should let everyone experience togetherness. If people get to know each other, they gain trust and experience that they can complement and enrich each other. It is precisely this that I experience again and again in Together for Europe.
How do you live Together for Europe in your daily life?
Every person is a child of God and therefore I aim to treat my neighbours with care and respect. This makes it easier to face many of life’s difficulties, because one feels acceptance and support. I am always deeply touched when, without any expectations, I do something with Christians from other communities and the elementary aspects of life are dealt with in great agreement.
We share here the testimony of Gerhard Pross, moderator of Together for Europe, who was invited to Thessaloniki (Greece) to sign a joint declaration by Christians of different Churches, in view of the upcoming European elections in June 2024.
On 15 May 2024, Declaration ‘Europe, Be Yourself!’>>was signed. I had the honour to sign it together with the President of the CEC [1], Archbishop Nikitas, the President of COMECE [2], Bishop Mariano Crociata and the Secretary General of the I.A.O. [3], Maximos Charakopoulos
It was quite unusual for us, as a network of Movements, to be represented at this level; but it was the Orthodox parliamentarians who attached great importance to our voice, because they knew that we were making an active contribution to the Christian roots of Europe.
The contribution of Christian Movements to our society
In my brief greeting at the signing ceremony, I was able to refer to the conversation between the then President of the EU Commission Romano Prodi and Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement. On that occasion, Prodi asked Chiara Lubich how he could do Christian politics if Christians themselves do not raise their voices. Chiara then motivated us to plan an event, which was then held in May 2004, with the theme ‘Together for Europe’ and which impressively showed how much the Christian Movements contribute to our society with their commitment.
The passion to ‘rekindle’ Christian values in Europe
The signing was the prelude to a two-day ‘International Political Conference’ in Thessaloniki, with the aim of expressing Christian values in Europe. Numerous representatives of the mentioned Churches, politicians from European countries, university professors from Thessaloniki and other experts spoke in numerous plenary sessions. Sometimes there were controversial positions, with heated debates on the difference between Christian and European values, why the EU Future Document does not mention Churches and faith at all, and how to deal with increasing secularisation. On the other hand, very clear and encouraging Christian positions have emerged, for example from the Albanian Minister of Culture.
Speaking with one voice
Our ‘7 YESes’ >>, which I was able to introduce in the first round of talks, resonated positively on several occasions. Many people eagerly asked what Together for Europe was all about, knowing nothing about it, and showed that they were interested. Numerous contacts were established. The conference raised awareness of the need to ensure that Christian values (and the Christian faith) are not removed from the EU consciousness. On the last day, one participant summed up the main problem as follows: ‘We Christians are not heard, because we are not united and therefore do not speak with one voice.’
We should raise our voices more courageously and defend our values more clearly, without imposing them on others – this is what I stated there, this is my deep conviction.
Thessaloniki, Pentecost 2024
Gerhard Pross
[1] CEC = Conference of European Churches. The CEC is a community of some 114 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Vetero-Catholic Churches from all European countries.
[2] COMECE = Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences [cattoliche] of the European Union.
In Rome, at the event organised for Europe Day, I meet Aldo Bernabei, who has long been committed in the political world to create opportunities for young Europeans to meet, engage socially and work together. On this occasion, he tells me about a recent European Union Project: the European Solidarity Corps.
The European Solidarity Corps: what is it all about?
It is an EU-funded project, approved in 2018, for young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30, with the aim of developing young people’s sense of European citizenship through a period of voluntary work. It must be offered in at least three different European countries and include a prior training course.
How is it organised in concrete terms?
It is intended to offer young people the opportunity to engage in programmes aimed at the common good. Within their own countries, national associations or agencies propose the funding of projects aimed at social initiatives, helping people in poverty, also in non-European countries, or undertaking cultural activities, e.g. on the identity of their own country. These work assignments give European-level credits that can be used for entry into the labour market.
What is the long-term outlook?
It is hoped that ‘national civil services’ will be established throughout Europe, so that in the future there will be a civil service at European level and that volunteer status will be mutually recognised by all countries. To this end, an appeal was formulated>>, addressed in particular to MEPs, for their support of the Programme ‘European Solidarity Corps’ in view of a Europe of solidarity, active citizenship and peace.
