Speech of Pope John Paul II in Compostela in 1982

Pope John Paul II in Compostela in 1982

Continuing with our tributes on the occasion of the beatification and canonization of Pope John Paul II , we present the speech he gave on his first trip to Santiago de Compostela in 1982.

Although 28 years have passed, we consider that the speech he gave on that day is more current than ever:

Majesties, most excellent and most illustrious gentlemen, ladies, brothers,

1. At the end of my pilgrimage through Spanish lands, I stop at this splendid cathedral , so closely linked to the Apostle Santiago and to the faith of Spain . Allow me first of all to warmly thank His Majesty the King for the significant words he addressed to me at the beginning of this act.

This place, so dear to all Galicians and Spaniards, has in the past been a point of attraction and convergence for Europe and for all of Christendom. That is why I wanted to meet here distinguished representatives of European Organisms, Bishops and Organizations of the continent. I address my deferential and cordial greeting to all, and with you I want to reflect this afternoon on Europe.

At this moment my gaze extends over the European continent, over the immense network of communication routes that link the cities and nations that make it up, and I see again those roads that, since the Middle Ages, have led and Innumerable masses of pilgrims identified with the scallop shell , attracted by devotion to the Apostle, lead to Santiago de Compostela —as evidenced by the Holy Year celebrated this year.

Since the eleventh and twelfth centuries, under the impulse of the monks of Cluny , the faithful from all corners of Europe come more and more frequently to the Tomb of the Apostle Santiago , extending that famous Camino de Santiago to the considered Fines terrae of that time. , for which the Spaniards had already made a pilgrimage. And finding assistance and shelter in exemplary figures of charity, such as Santo Domingo de la Calzada and San Juan Ortega , or in places such as the Virgen del Camino sanctuary.

Here they came from France, Italy, Central Europe, the Nordic Countries and the Slavic Nations, Christians of all social conditions , from the kings to the most humble inhabitants of the villages; Christians of all spiritual levels , from saints, such as Francis of Assisi and Bridget of Sweden (not to mention so many other Spaniards), to public sinners seeking penance.

The whole of Europe has found itself around the image of Santiago Apóstol , in the same centuries in which it was built as a homogeneous and spiritually united continent. That is why Goethe himself will insinuate that the conscience of Europe was born on pilgrimage.

2. The pilgrimage to Santiago was one of the strong elements that favored the mutual understanding of such different European peoples, such as the Latins, the Germans, Celts, Anglo-Saxons and Slavs. The pilgrimage brought closer, related and united among themselves those peoples who, century after century, convinced by the preaching of Christ's witnesses, embraced the Gospel and at the same time, it can be affirmed, emerged as peoples and nations.

The history of the formation of European nations goes hand in hand with their evangelization ; to the point that the European borders coincide with those of the penetration of the Gospel. After twenty centuries of history, despite the bloody conflicts that have confronted the peoples of Europe, and despite the spiritual crises that have marked the life of the continent — to the point of raising serious questions about its future fate in the conscience of our time — It must be affirmed that European identity is incomprehensible without Christianity , and that precisely in it are found those common roots, from which the civilization of the continent has matured, its culture, its dynamism, its activity, its capacity for constructive expansion also in the other continents; in a word, all that constitutes its glory.

And even today, the soul of Europe remains united because, in addition to its common origin, it has identical Christian and human values , such as the dignity of the human person, the deep sense of justice and freedom, industriousness, spirit of initiative, love for the family, respect for life, tolerance and desire for cooperation and peace, which are notes that characterize it.

3. I direct my gaze to Europe as the continent that has contributed the most to the development of the world , both in the field of ideas and in that of work, in that of the sciences and the arts. And while I bless the Lord for having illuminated it with his evangelical light from the origins of the apostolic preaching, I cannot silence the state of crisis in which it finds itself, as it approaches the third millennium of the Christian era.

I speak to representatives of Organizations born for European cooperation, and to brothers in the Episcopate of the different local Churches of Europe. The crisis reaches both civil and religious life . On a civil level, Europe is divided . Some unnatural fractures deprive their peoples of the right to meet each other reciprocally in a climate of friendship; and to freely combine their efforts and creativity in the service of a peaceful coexistence, or of a solidary contribution to the solution of problems that affect other continents. Civil life is marked by the consequences of secularized ideologies , which range from the denial of God or the limitation of religious freedom, to the preponderant importance attributed to economic success with respect to the human values of work and production; from materialism and hedonism, which attack the values of the prolific and united family, those of the newly conceived life and the moral protection of youth, to a nihilism that disarms the will to face crucial problems such as those of the new poor , immigrants, ethnic and religious minorities, correct use of the information media, while arming the hands of terrorism .

Europe is also divided in the religious aspect : not so much or mainly because of the divisions that have occurred through the centuries, but because of the defection of the baptized and believers from the deep reasons of their faith and the doctrinal and moral vigor of that Christian vision. of life, which guarantees balance to people and communities.

4. For this, I, Juan Pablo, son of the Polish nation that has always considered itself European, due to its origins, traditions, culture and vital relations; Slavic among the Latins and Latin among the Slavs; I, Successor of Peter at the See of Rome , a See that Christ wanted to place in Europe and that he loves for his effort in spreading Christianity throughout the world. I, Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the universal Church, from Santiago, send you, old Europe, a cry full of love: Come back to meet you. Be yourself . Discover your origins. Revive your roots . Relive those authentic values that made your history glorious and beneficial your presence in other continents. Rebuild your spiritual unity, in a climate of full respect for the. other religions and to genuine freedoms. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. Do not be proud of your conquests until you forget their possible negative consequences. Do not be depressed by the quantitative loss of your greatness in the world or by the social and cultural crises that affect you now. You can still be a beacon of civilization and a stimulus of progress for the world. The other continents look at you and also expect from you the same response that James gave to Christ: I can.

5. If Europe is one , and can be with due respect for all its differences, including those of the various political systems; if Europe thinks again about social life, with the force that some affirmations of principle have, such as those contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , in the European Declaration of Human Rights, in the Final Act of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe; yes, Europe once again acts, in specifically religious life, with due knowledge and respect for God, on whom all law and all justice is based; if Europe once again opens its doors to Christ and is not afraid to open to his salvific power the borders of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development (Cf. Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II , I (1978) 35 ss), his future will not be dominated by uncertainty and fear, rather it will open to a new period of life, both internal and external, beneficial and decisive for the world, constantly threatened by the clouds of the war and by a possible cyclone of atomic holocaust.

6. In these moments, the names of great personalities come to mind: men and women who have given splendor and glory to this continent for their talent, ability and virtues. The list is so numerous among the thinkers, scientists, artists, explorers, inventors, heads of state, apostles and saints, that it does not allow abbreviations. These constitute a stimulating heritage of example and trust. Europe still has incomparable human energies in reserve, capable of sustaining it in this historic task of continental rebirth and service to humanity.

I am pleased now to simply recall the strength of spirit of Saint Teresa of Jesus , whose memory I especially wanted to honor during this trip, and the generosity of Maximilian Kolbe , a martyr of charity in the Auschwitz concentration camp whom I recently proclaimed a saint. . But Saints Benedict of Nursia and Cyril and Methodius, Patrons of Europe, deserve particular mention. From the first days of my pontificate, I have not ceased to underline my concern for the life of Europe, and to indicate what are the teachings that come from the spirit and action of the Patriarch of the West and of the two Greek brothers, apostles of the Slavic peoples. .

Benedict knew how to combine Romanity with the Gospel, the sense of universality and law with the value of God and the human person. With his well-known phrase ora et labora —pray and work—, he has left us a rule that is still valid today for the balance of the person and society, threatened by the prevailing of having over being .

Saints Cyril and Methodius knew how to anticipate some conquests , which have been fully assumed by the Church in the Second Vatican Council, on the inculturation of the evangelical message in the respective civilizations, taking the language, customs and spirit of the lineage with all its fullness. of its value. And they did this in the 9th century, with the approval and support of the Apostolic See, thus giving rise to that presence of Christianity among the Slavic peoples, which remains undeniable today, despite the current contingent vicissitudes. I have dedicated pilgrimages, speeches, pontifical documents and public worship to the three Patrons of Europe, imploring their protection on the continent, and at the same time showing their thoughts and their example to the new generations.

The Church is also aware of the place that corresponds to her in the spiritual and human renewal of Europe. Without claiming certain positions that it held in the past and that the current era sees as totally surpassed, the Church itself puts itself at the service, as the Holy See and as a Catholic Community, to contribute to the achievement of those goals, which seek authentic material well-being , cultural and spiritual nations. Therefore, also at the diplomatic level, it is present through its Observers in the various non-political community organizations; for the same reason it maintains diplomatic relations, as extensive as possible, with the States; for the same reason it has participated, as a member, in the Helsinki Conference and in the signing of its important Final Act, as well as in the Belgrade and Madrid meetings; the latter, resumed today; and for which I offer the best wishes at times that are not easy for Europe.

But it is the ecclesial life that is mainly called in cause, in order to continue giving a testimony of service and love, to contribute to overcoming the current crises of the continent , as I have had occasion to repeat recently in the Symposium of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (Cf. IOANNIS Pauli PP. II Allocutio ad Consilium Conferentiarum Episcopalium Europae habita , dated Oct. 5, 1982: vide supra , pp. 689 ss.).

7. God's help is with us . The prayer of all believers accompanies us. The good will of many unknown people, architects of peace and progress, is present in our midst, as a guarantee that this Message addressed to the peoples of Europe will fall on fertile ground.

Jesus Christ, the Lord of history, has the future open to the generous and free decisions of all those who, receiving the grace of good inspirations, commit themselves to decisive action for justice and charity, within the framework of full respect to truth and freedom.

I entrust these thoughts to the image of the Most Holy Virgin , so that she may bless them and make them fruitful; and remembering the cult that is given to the Mother of God in the numerous sanctuaries of Europe, from the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Fatima to Ostra Brama, from Lourdes and Loreto to Częstochowa , I ask you to welcome the prayers of so many hearts: so that good continues to be a joyful reality in Europe and Christ may always keep our continent united to God."