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UDIENZA
ALL'AMBASCIATORE CECO
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Radio
Vaticana 27 settembre 2008
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“Le
molte sfide per l’Europa” nel discorso del
Papa al nuovo ambasciatore della Repubblica Ceca
“Le
molte sfide per l’Europa di oggi” e il ruolo
della Chiesa per tutte le società, al centro del
discorso del Papa al nuovo ambasciatore della
Repubblica Ceca, Pavel Vošalík, ricevuto stamane
per la presentazione delle Lettere credenziali. Il
servizio di Fausta Speranza:
Alla Repubblica Ceca che sarà nel prossimo
anno presidente di turno dell’Unione Europea per
sei mesi, il Papa parla delle “molte sfide che
si pongono all’Europa, in particolare in un
momento in cui le sue nazioni – dice - aspirano
a costruire una più stabile comunità
internazionale per le future generazioni”.
“Per farlo – avverte Benedetto XVI – i
leader europei sono chiamati a riconoscere che la
felicità umana e il benessere non possono essere
ottenuti attraverso le sole strutture”.
Piuttosto – spiega il Papa – “la
realizzazione di una vera cultura all’altezza
della nobile vocazione dell’uomo richiede
l’armoniosa cooperazione delle famiglie, delle
comunità ecclesiali, scuole, mondo degli affari,
organizzazioni e istituzioni di governo”.
Per
questo – sottolinea con decisione il Papa –
“tutte le società traggono beneficio quando
alla Chiesa viene riconosciuto il diritto di
esercitare il ruolo di amministratrice di beni
materiali e spirituali insito nel suo
ministero”. E il Papa guardando in particolare
alla Repubblica Ceca, afferma che “ci sono segni
di progresso su questo tema ma molto deve ancora
essere fatto”. Il Papa si augura che “le
apposite Commissioni istituite da governo e
parlamento per risolvere le questioni legate alle
proprietà della Chiesa lavorino con onestà,
giustizia e vera considerazione della capacità
della Chiesa di contribuire al benessere dello
Stato”. E il Papa sottolinea l’attesa per una
soluzione per il futuro della cattedrale di Praga.
Ricorda il lavoro della Chiesa e della Caritas
nazionale sottolineando i positivi frutti della
cooperazione tra realtà dello Stato e quelle
della Chiesa. Benedetto XVI apprezza il
riconoscimento da parte del nuovo ambasciatore
della Repubblica Ceca del ruolo che il Vangelo ha
avuto nel portare speranza al popolo ceco nei
tempi dell’oppressione. E si dice fiducioso che,
nella presidenza di turno dell’Unione Europea,
la Repubblica Ceca darà un contributo
all’impegno a far convivere “unità e diversità,
sovranità nazionale e azione condivisa, progresso
economico e giustizia sociale nel continente”.
Il Papa, infine, esprime sincere condoglianze per
la tragica morte dell'ambasciatore della
Repubblica Ceca presso lo Stato pachistano, Ivo Žd’árek,
ucciso nel recente sanguinoso attentato a
Islamabad. |
DISCORSO DEL SANTO PADRE
Mr
Ambassador,
I am
pleased to receive you today as you present the Letters of
Credence accrediting you as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic. I am grateful for
your kind words as you begin the mission entrusted to you
by your Government. Please express my respectful greetings
to His Excellency, Mr Václav Klaus, President of the
Republic, assuring him of my prayers for the well-being of
all the people of your Country.
Mr
Ambassador, I appreciate the emphasis you have placed on
the influence of Christianity on the rich cultural
heritage of your nation, and particularly the role that
the Gospel played in bringing hope to the Czech people in
times of oppression. Hope is indeed the timeless message
which the Church offers to every generation, and it
prompts her to participate in the global task of forging
bonds of peace and goodwill among all peoples. She does
this in a special way by her diplomatic activity, through
which she extols the dignity of persons as destined for a
life of communion with God and with one another.
Your
nation, bolstered by the sense of solidarity that enabled
her to emerge courageously from the collapse of
totalitarianism, also desires to contribute to the welfare
of the human family by enhancing international cooperation
in the struggle against violence, hunger, poverty and
other social ills. New avenues of influence will soon open
for your country as it prepares to assume the Presidency
of the Council of the European Union next year. I am
confident that by setting clear goals and facilitating the
involvement of all member States, the distinct honour of
presiding over the Council for a six-month term will
permit the Czech Republic to exercise strong leadership in
the shared endeavour of combining unity and diversity,
national sovereignty and joint activity, and economic
progress and social justice across the continent.
The
Church is well aware of the many challenges facing Europe
precisely at a time when its nations aspire to build a
more stable international community for future generations.
To move forward, its leaders are called to recognize that
human happiness and well-being cannot be achieved through
structures alone or by any single stratum of social or
political life (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). The realization
of a genuine culture worthy of man’s noble vocation
requires the harmonious cooperation of families, ecclesial
communities, schools, businesses, community organizations
and governmental institutions. Far from being ends in
themselves, these entities are organized structures
intended for the service of all, and are integrally
connected to one another in the pursuit of the common good
(cf. Centesimus Annus, 13).
For this
reason, all of society benefits when the Church is
afforded the right to exercise stewardship over the
material and spiritual goods required for her ministry (cf.
Gaudium et Spes, 88). In your nation, there are
signs of progress in this area, but there is more to be
done. I am confident that the special Commissions set up
by your Government and Parliament for resolving
outstanding issues regarding ecclesiastical property will
move forward with honesty, fairness, and a genuine
recognition of the Church’s ability to contribute to the
welfare of the Republic. In particular, I hope that such
considerations will be kept in clear view while a solution
is sought concerning the future of the Cathedral in Prague,
which stands as a living witness to the rich cultural and
religious heritage of your land, and testifies to the
harmonious coexistence of Church and State.
By its
very nature, the Gospel urges people of faith to offer
themselves in loving service to their brothers and sisters
without distinction and without counting the cost (cf. Lk
10:25-37). Love is the outward manifestation of the
faith that sustains the community of believers and
empowers them to be signs of hope for the world (cf. Jn
13:35). An example of this visible charity shines
through the work of Caritas, whose members engage
daily in a wide range of social services in your country.
This is especially evident in the service it offers on
behalf of expectant mothers, the homeless, the disabled,
and the imprisoned. The coordination between Caritas
Czech Republic and the governmental Ministries of
Health, Labour and Social Affairs demonstrates the
potential fruits that can result from close collaboration
between State and Church agencies (cf. Deus Caritas
Est, 30). I would emphasize here the enormous
formative potential for young people, whose participation
in such initiatives teaches them that genuine solidarity
does not merely consist in supplying material goods but in
making a gift of oneself (cf. Lk 17:33). Moreover,
as the Czech Republic searches to expand ways of
participating in the task of shaping a more cohesive and
cooperative international community, we should not forget
the many Czech citizens already serving abroad in
long-term development and aid projects under the auspices
of Caritas and other humanitarian organizations. I
heartily encourage their efforts and commend the
generosity of all your fellow citizens who creatively seek
ways to serve the common good both within your nation and
across the globe.
Before
closing, Your Excellency, allow me to express my sincere
condolences to you and your fellow citizens upon the
tragic death of Mr Ivo Žd’árek, Ambassador of the
Czech Republic to Pakistan, who was among the victims
killed in the recent attack in Islamabad. I pray daily for
an end to such acts of aggression, and I encourage all
those engaged in diplomatic service to dedicate themselves
ever more keenly to facilitating peace and ensuring
security throughout the world.
As you
begin your service, Mr Ambassador, I extend cordial wishes
that the important mission entrusted to you will be
fruitful. Please know that the offices of the Roman Curia
are eager to assist you in the fulfilment of your duties.
Asking you kindly to assure the people of the Czech
Republic of my prayers and esteem, I invoke upon them an
abundance of divine blessings and entrust them to the
loving providence of Almighty God.
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