Receiving the Charlemagne Prize, an award for promoting “west European understanding”, last Friday, Pope Francis spoke of his dream for Europe, praising those who laid the “foundations for a bastion of peace, an edifice made up of states united not by force but by free commitment to the common good”. But he said: “Their new and exciting desire to create unity seems to be fading.” He criticised “the heirs of their dream [who] are tempted to yield to our own selfish interests”.
What the British media are saying
The secular press generally focused on the Pope’s criticisms of Europe. The Guardian headlined its story “Pope Francis castigates Europe in speech on solidarity”, saying: “Europe is struggling to live up to the vision of its founders, Pope Francis has said in a powerful speech that asked: ‘What has happened to you, the Europe of humanism, the champion of human rights, democracy and freedom?’” Under the headline “Pope Francis rebukes Europe: being a migrant is not a crime”, the Huffington Post began: “Pope Francis on Friday lamented a Europe he said had grown ‘weary’ and ‘entrenched’, and urged the continent not to see migrants as criminals.” The Europe edition of the political website Politico took a different political angle: “Pope’s Europe speech a boost to anti-Brexit campaign”.
What the vaticanisti are saying
Many websites drew comparisons with Martin Luther King’s famous speech: cruxnow.com headlined their story: “Pope Francis tells Europe, ‘I have a dream’ ”. The website’s John Allen noted a difference in approach between Francis and his predecessors. In Pope Benedict’s view, Europe was riven by secularism, and the Church needed to be a “creative minority” – a phrase which many interpreted as “a call … to see themselves as an embattled subculture”. But for Francis, Catholics should be “agents of encounter and integration”, putting their beliefs into practice wherever they are most needed. The National Catholic Register emphasised the Pope’s plea for “a culture in which ‘getting married and having children is a responsibility and a great joy’”.
The most overlooked story of the week ✣Catholics and Anglicans pray for conversion of nation
What happened?
The bishops of England and Wales have asked Catholics to join in an Anglican week of prayer for the conversion of the country. Church of England bishops have asked every Anglican to join a “great wave of prayer across the land” in the week before Pentecost on Sunday. The Catholic bishops approved of the call in last month’s plenary meeting.
Why was it under-reported?
The Catholic bishops’ positive response was missed amid the other decisions from their plenary meeting, including a statement on the EU referendum and the news that more and more people are going to Confession. Christopher Roberts, the general secretary of the bishops’ conference, drew attention to the initiative in an interview last week; but the bishops seem to have decided not to promote it, instead leaving it up to dioceses. The news has not been reported in the secular press: ecumenism is not a big news story.
What will happen next?
The joining of forces for the week of prayer, focusing on the Lord’s Prayer, reflects practical co-operation between the two communions both at the grassroots and at the top. Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby collaborate frequently: a year ago they prayed together for Christian unity at the Royal Albert Hall, and were interviewed together discussing the future of the Church. Justin Welby, whose spiritual director is a Catholic priest, is sympathetic to the Church. It is likely that more joint initiatives will follow.
✣The week ahead
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Burma’s first ever cardinal, is visiting Britain this month. An outspoken speaker on human rights, religious freedom, peace and justice, he will speak at St Joseph’s church in New Malden, Surrey, this evening; at Speaker’s House at the House of Commons on Wednesday; and at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday May 22.
Catholic peer Lord Brennan will speak today at a Vatican conference on how business can fight poverty. He will also meet the Pope along with other speakers at the conference, which was organised by the Centesimus Annus foundation.
The annual March for Life in Birmingham will take place tomorrow, starting from Victoria Square at 11.45 following a Mass at St Chad’s Cathedral at 10am. Speakers include Stephanie Gray, a Canadian pro-life activist, Ryan Bomberger of the Radiance Foundation, and Auxiliary Bishop David McGough of Birmingham.
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