Message from the Pope to the European Forum Alpbach

VATICAN CITY (EFE).— Pope Francis encouraged European society on Saturday to “remain open to the world” and to defend principles such as fraternity amid a “populist wave,” in a message to attendees at the Alpbach European Forum.

“When I think of Europe, I think above all of the continent of human rights,” said the Pope in his letter to this forum that brings together young Europeans and people from around the world in Austria to discuss issues such as politics, economics, civil society and science.

Francis said that the European continent “is currently experiencing a time of crisis that involves dangers and opportunities.”

“A time when various populist movements are enjoying great popularity. The reasons for this are mainly economic and political factors,” said the leader of the Catholic Church.

He denounced: “We see that in Europe, as a result of this populist ‘wave’, some ideals have vanished and some principles, relating to behaviour towards the weakest members of society, have been put on the back burner.”

These ideals and principles, such as those of human dignity and fraternity, “were always present in the Gospel” and, for this reason, he encouraged European Christians to contribute to society “the richness of the social doctrine of the Church” and its “universality.”

“Today we live in a secularized society, but this should not surprise or frighten us because we know well that God is also there.”

Francis said that the European Union, since its foundation, has also had universal features and expressed his hope that it will not lose them.

“In this regard, the aspect of fraternity is particularly important, as it implies that societies in Europe are called to find ways and means to reduce polarisation within themselves and remain open to the world around them,” he urged.

The Pope concluded by encouraging the participants of the forum to be “contagious witnesses of European ideals.”