Benedict XVI: Europe is the spiritual home of liberty

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
29 Sep 2009

Pope Benedict XVI met with the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, on Saturday afternoon, September 26th, and delivered an address to civil authorities and the diplomatic corps, telling them Europe is more than a continent, it is a house, a spiritual homeland, the hallmarks of which are freedom and Christian values.

While respecting the distinction between political and religious spheres, said Pope Benedict, Christianity has a unique role in the formation of consciences. The Holy Father said faith and the search for truth act as guarantors of the very pluralism and cohesion upon which life in civil society depends. The Pope again noted that the architectural heritage of Prague, the heart of Europe, directs our minds to God and shows the reason that there is a spiritual reality.

Pope Benedict also called on governments, the political classes, and whole societies to educate young people and promote the growth of the intellectual, human, and spiritual dimension.