The ethical foundations of the European project

Abstract

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of the European Union (COMECE), of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the European Union, and the 50th anniversary of the presence of the Holy See as Permanent Observer to the Council of Europe, Pope Francis recalls the ethical vision and mission of the founding fathers of the European Union in his letter addressed to the Secretary of State, Card. Pietro Parolin. Harping back to the words of Saint John Paul II in the European Act of Santiago de Compostela, he exhorts Europe to remain as timely as ever: «Europe, “find yourself, be yourself”». Pope Francis encourages Europe to rediscover its «most deeply rooted ideals» which are solidly based on shared values and common beliefs. In his visionary letter, Pope Francis captures today’s critical juncture of the European trajectory by reframing his dream about the European integration project in the light of its modern founding fathers’ ethical vision which embraces human dignity, peace, justice, unity, human rights, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, equality, solidarity and fraternity. The European project arose from a robust determination to end past divisions, from the strong conviction that unity and cooperation are the way forward for the flourishing of justice and the common good, and from the deep-rooted consciousness and conscientiousness that the path to solidarity and fraternity is the protection of the vulnerable and marginalised.