Ecclesia in Europa

Ecclesia in Europa (English: The Church in Europe) is a post-synodal apostolic exhortation written by Pope John Paul II, published on 28 June 2003. The exhortation follows up on the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, which met during 1–23 October 1999. It addresses the Church in Europe.

Ecclesia in Europa
Latin for 'The Church in Europe'
Apostolic exhortation of Pope John Paul II
Signature date28 June 2003
Number14 of 15 of the pontificate
Text

The document was organized using a theme of hope. Its foundational Bible texts were taken from the Book of Revelation.[1]

Ecclesia in Europa candidly recognized that Europe was on the verge of becoming a post-Christian continent, in that the Gospel must now bring its “message of hope to a Europe that seems to have lost sight of it.”[2]

Continental Synods in Preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2000

As part of the preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, Pope John Paul II convened five special synods of bishops to consider the situation of the church in each of the five continents: Africa, America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. The synods developed responses to the challenges of holiness, evangelization, and service confronting the church in each region at this milestone in history. The synods prepared the Church for the year 2000 and Third Millennium by promoting a “New evangelization"[3]

Pope John Paul II pushed for a reference to Europe's Christian cultural roots in the draft of the European Constitution. In Ecclesia in Europa, John Paul II wrote that he "fully (respected) the secular nature of (European) institutions". However, he wanted the EU Constitution to enshrine religious rights, including acknowledging the rights of religious groups to organise freely and to enjoy the legal status enjoyed by religious institutions in individual member states. "I wish once more to appeal to those drawing up the future European Constitutional Treaty so that it will include a reference to the religion and in particular to the Christian heritage of Europe," John Paul II said.[4]

See also

References
  1. John Paul II. (2013). Ecclesia in Europa. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. §6
  2. Weigel, George. The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II – The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy . The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition citing "Ecclesia in Europa" §2.
  3. Fagan, John E.. The Timeless Teachings of St John Paul II: Summaries of His Papal Documents . Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
  4. Ecclesia in Europa §114
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