Vatican City (AsiaNews) In the words the pope gave prior to today's Regina Caeli, John Paul II reaffirmed the need to maintain Europe's Christian roots, saying, "despite the spiritual crisis currently experienced by the Continent, its (Europe's) identity would be incomprehensible without Christianity."
The entry of 10 new EU countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovak Republic (already members of the Warsaw Pact) as well as Estonia, Slovenia, Latvia and Lithuania (once part of the USSR), Malta and Cyprus became official yesterday, May 1. The pope said this was "an important stage" in European history.
Yet the pontiff alerted the EU member states to bear in mind one fact: "The unity of European peoples, if it wants to be a lasting one, cannot just be one of politics and economics." The pope specifies that it is "only a Europe that doesn't remove, by rediscovers its very Christian roots which will be able to rise to the great challenges of the third millennium: (through promoting) peace, dialog among cultures and religions and safeguarding all creation. All believers in Christ in Eastern and Western Europe are called to contribute to promoting this important enterprise, via openness and sincere ecumenical cooperation."
After the Marian prayer, the pope said to the 26 newly ordained priests that, after cordially greeting them, their relatives and friends: "May you always be a real image of Christ amongst God's people."
"Today, as we celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations, I especially turn my thoughts and prayers to those dedicating themselves to forming priests and consecrated life. I welcome all of you to pray so that the Church will always have an abundance of holy vocations," the Holy Father added.