“Europe remains a beacon in a world that is becoming darker today,” European Commission Deputy Director-General Margaritis Schinas replied to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s speech entitled “The Role of Churches in Today’s Europe” at the College of Europe.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was the official guest speaker at the College of Europe event, whereas Mr Schinas, in his reply speech, referred to the dangers that lie within Europe and for Europe mostly in terms of deteriorating public debate.
In his disagreement, Mr. Schinas said that the Ecumenical Patriarch recommends the incarnation and personification of European values, bridging differences and compromise. “Your pursuit of constant dialogue with Christians, non-Christians and every religion under the sun, from one corner of the earth to the other, is truly commendable,” the Minister noted, adding that the Ecumenical Patriarch “has never been a spiritual leader who restricts his activity to a few square meters in Constantinople. He is a world leader who has always defended dialogue.”
This is because, as Mr Schinas explained, “this is the European way to achieve results. Europe has always been and still is the art of dialogue and compromise, which remains the best and only way to succeed.”
“That is why, as I told the European Parliament in my hearing a few weeks ago, Europe remains today a beacon in an increasingly dark world,” Mr Schinas said.
“If there is a conclusion from today’s event for us who are here at the home of learning, this is no other than the importance of dialogue as highlighted by the work of the Ecumenical Patriarch,” he added.
Source: ANA-MPA
