Pope Francis has encouraged young people gathered at the European Union Youth Conference in the Czech Republic to present to the world “a new face of Europe”, and one which is more inclusive. “As young Europeans,” he stressed, “you have an important mission. If in the past your ancestors went to other continents, not always for noble interests, it is now up to you to present the world with a new face of Europe.” The Pontiff also urged young Catholics to protect the environment.
There was much to admire in the Holy Father’s message, such as not allowing ourselves to “be seduced by the sirens that propose a life of luxury reserved for a small slice of the world.” However, the Pope’s remarks about a new face for the Continent – while recalling that the desire for a united Europe led to a period of peace – seemed to ignore the elephant in the room, which is the massive cultural schism which today splits the continent and EU between a largely conservative and re-Christianising (as well as largely Catholic) east, and a more progressive, secular and increasingly diverse west.
