POPE PAUL has warned foes of European unity that
they had better reverse their view lest a unity be forced on Europe "by external and material factors to the detriment of the inner spiritual inheritance" of the continent.
The Pope made a strong appeal for a united Europe at an audience granted to leaders of the International Council of the European Movement led by its president, Maurice Faure.
Speaking in French to the European movement leaders, the Pope noted that the church has a "great and grave responsibility to preach the Gospel and to make all men brothers among themselves, heirs of the pastoral mission that during all centuries has considered Europe as a united Christianity — even though divided into distinct groups."
He added that in such terms We too arc for a united Europe."
The Pope warned that "those who fear that the unification of Europe may bring a levelling, a suppression of the historical and cultural values of the different countries, far from delaying, should instead favour the formation of the structures of the new Europe, so as to avoid that unity which might be imposed on her by external and material factors to the detriment of her inner spiritual inheritance. or by force of necessity to which it will he difficult tomorrow to offer effective resistance."
BALANCE OF POWER Pope Paul continued: "Peace based on the balance of power or on a truce among antagonisms or purely economic interests is nothing but frail, and will always lack the necessary energies to solve Europe's fundamental problems, those concerning the populations of which it is composed and the brotherly and community spirit by which it has to be animated."
The European movement, Pope Paul said, "must let everybody, especially young people, know the excellency of the cause of a united Europe in order that the political and social organization may be able to be realized and may be maintained with the spontaneous support of the people and in a spirit of mutual and sincere collaboration. For this reason the Church believes it to be her duty and in her power to bring her support to the cause of this movement."