The Vice-President of COMECE, Archbishop Antoine Hérouard, recently shared insights with Vatican News regarding the European bishops’ concerns for the future of Europe. Following the recent EU elections, Hérouard emphasised the need for EU institutions to be more attuned to people’s needs and to revive the founding spirit of peaceful unity amidst ongoing conflicts.
Pope Francis met with the Presidencies of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) to discuss pressing issues, including the war in Ukraine and the significant rise of nationalistic and Eurosceptic parties in several Western European countries.
After the audience, Archbishop Hérouard highlighted the European bishops’ concerns about the challenges facing the EU. He pointed out the role that Christian Churches and other religious communities can play in helping Europe rediscover its “European soul”. This involves embracing the founding spirit of peaceful unity to confront issues such as Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In his interview, Archbishop Hérouard stressed the need for greater solidarity among EU members. He warned that nationalism is not the solution to Europe’s challenges, including the contentious issue of migration. Hérouard asserted that Europe appears “weak” in the international arena and that nationalism only exacerbates this weakness.
Reflecting on the recent European Parliament elections, Hérouard observed that the results reveal widespread dismay among European citizens towards some of the EU’s decisions. This sentiment is particularly strong in key founding members like France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy, where far-right parties have gained significant traction. Many Europeans perceive Brussels as being disconnected from their daily concerns.
However, Hérouard noted that this trend is less pronounced in some Eastern European countries, such as Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and even Hungary, where pro-European parties have seen an increase in support. Despite nationalist groups now holding one-quarter of the seats in the European Parliament, the pro-European ‘Ursula’ coalition has managed to maintain its majority.
Archbishop Hérouard emphasized that Europe must focus on the common good of the Union to strengthen its voice on the global stage. This unity is crucial for Europe to play a significant role in fostering peace worldwide, starting with the conflict in Ukraine.
Churches and other religious communities, according to Hérouard, can contribute significantly by encouraging dialogue and building bridges. This aligns with Pope Francis’s exhortation to the European bishops to offer a message of hope that many Europeans seem to have lost. Hérouard stressed, “We are not a political party; we don’t have solutions, but we have to show that problems are always wider than the immediate interests of individual countries.”
In conclusion, Archbishop Hérouard remarked that the European Union would be stronger if it reconsiders the place of religions and beliefs within its member states. By embracing the values and contributions of various religious communities, Europe can reinforce its founding principles of unity and peace.
