In Brussels, Cardinal Parolin urges Europe to remember its Christian roots

Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula, founded in 1226 – one of the main symbols of Christian Belgium. Photo: Vatican News

The Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, speaking at the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula on the occasion of its eight-hundredth anniversary, reminded those present of Europe’s spiritual mission, Vatican News reports.

Addressing the faithful and representatives of the Belgian royal family, the cardinal stressed that the Church does not exist outside time, but “at the very heart of history”. He recalled that the Christian faith had taken root in Brussels even before the thirteenth century, when a chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael stood on the site of the present cathedral. Parolin highlighted the cathedral’s two patrons – Michael and Gudula – as symbols of spiritual vigilance and daily faithfulness.

The cardinal noted that contemporary Europe is experiencing “a period of profound fragility, marked by fears and divisions not only of a political and social nature, but also internal and cultural”.

According to him, a loss of self-confidence also poses a challenge for the Church today. The Roman Catholic cardinal said that the greatest danger lies not in numerical decline, but in a loss of relevance and in the erosion of “evangelical courage”.

As the UOJ previously reported, Parolin earlier spoke about a peace plan for Ukraine, stating that the parties would have to make compromises.

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