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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JUNE 17, 1983
PAGE 13
customs union ("inadequate" and "a dead-end street" says Barzini) to accom
plish the unification of Europe that so many claim they seek. It will take
a world crisis and the emergence of great leaders in both the secular and
religious arenas.
The fact is, Europeans are still haunted by their distinctive national past
histories. They all, to one degree or another, especially France, hold to
their own egoisme sacre--sacred selfishness. These proud memories of past
empires of relatively recent history (generally from the 1500s onward)
prevent them from recalling another memory which could serve, notes
Barzini, as a rallying point.
Curiously enough, other memories that could inspire the same
ministers and the European Parliament, fan the flame of European
patriotism, and miraculously facilitate all agreements, are
seldom evoked.
One is the memory of Christendom, at one time
another name for Europe, when all sovereigns, great and small,
were theoretically united and under the earthly tutelage of the
Holy Roman Empire and the spiritual tutelage of the�-
Not
even the Vatican likes to be reminded of Christendom. Only on
rare ceremonial occasions is the name of Charlemagne, the founder
of the Holy Roman Empire, mentioned.
Mr. Barzini is not qu_
ite correct about the Vatican's role. On occasion, the
current pope has tried to revivify Europe's common Christian (Catholic)
roots, although he has been very cautious so far about the extent of the
church's direct role in any new scheme of things. The secular leaders of
Europe have not paid much attention--yet--to such clarion calls for the
spiritual unity of Europe as issued in Poland in 1979 and in Spain last
year. All the more reason to pay close attention to the words of John Paul
II on his current trip to his Polish homeland.
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau