|
|
 |
|
CNS Story:
|
POPE-AUDIENCE Apr-9-2008 (540 words) With photos. xxxi
Pope: Europe must undergo ethical renewal to avoid repeating mistakes
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The future of Europe cannot rest solely on political and economic unity; the continent must also undergo an ethical and spiritual renewal if it is to avoid repeating its past mistakes, Pope Benedict XVI said.
A crucial source for that renewal can be found in St. Benedict, the patron saint of Europe, who is still the best teacher to show people "the art of living true humanism," he said.
The pope spoke about St. Benedict, the fifth-century father of Western monasticism and "patron saint of my pontificate," during his April 9 general audience in St. Peter's Square.
The pope referred to St. Pope Gregory the Great 's writings about St. Benedict in describing the life and contributions of this Italian saint who lived from 480 to 547.
He said St. Gregory wrote the book "The Dialogues" during a time when Europe was experiencing a "tremendous crisis of values" and turmoil caused by "the fall of the Roman Empire, the invasion of new peoples" and traditional customs sinking into decadence.
The sixth-century pope believed that St. Benedict was "a shining star" whose life, example and rule could light the way out of such dark times in history, the pope said.
St. Benedict's legacy created a new kind of unity based on Christian spirituality and culture which the whole continent shared, and in this way "the reality of what we call Europe was born," the pope said.
Today, Europe again is searching for a new kind of unity and identity after emerging from two tragic world wars and the aftermath of "great ideologies revealed as tragic utopias," the pope said.
While political, economic and juridical agreements and institutions are important, he said, it is also necessary to foster "an ethical and spiritual renewal that taps into the continent's Christian roots; otherwise Europe cannot be rebuilt."
Without drawing from its Christian heritage, he said, people "will remain exposed to the danger of succumbing to the old temptations" of man-made redemption through utopian visions that have so far only set humankind back.
In the search for "true progress, let us listen to the rule of St. Benedict today" and use it to light the way forward, he said.
Pope Benedict said the saint's guidelines and suggestions for abbots are also helpful for today's leaders.
The saint taught that an abbot should be "a tender father, also a strict teacher, a true educator, inflexible against vices, but called above all to imitate the tenderness of a good shepherd, to help rather than dominate, to highlight all that is good and holy more through one's actions than words," to teach the commandments by example, and to seek advice from one's brothers, even the young who often have the better solution, the pope said.
These guidelines are "surprisingly modern," the pope said, and those who hold political responsibility at any level must be people who listen and know how to learn from what they hear.
- - -
Editor's Note: The Vatican text of the pope's remarks in English is available online at: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20080409_en.html.
The Vatican text of the pope's remarks in Spanish is available online at: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20080409_sp.html.
END
Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
|
|
|
|
