Solemn European Vespers Ceremony (10 September 1983)

On Saturday, 10 September 1983, the Holy Father celebrated a Solemn European Vespers Ceremony in the Heldenplaz, Vienna. In his homily, he spoke of the variety of peoples in Europe and what united them. “What led the European continent to unity in variety was above all the spread of a single Christian faith.”

1. Peace be with you! Peace to this city! To this Austria! And to all countries bordering the North, East, South and West!

To you Austrian Catholics, gathered on the occasion of this "Katholikentag" from all the Dioceses, parishes, large and small communities, an augury of peace and a special greeting. Peace to all those who came here from other countries or who are participating in these solemn Vespers through radio and television! Peace to all Christians and all Christian Churches! Peace also to all men who believe in a God and humbly entrust their destiny to Him!

To all of you I offer this greeting of peace in the name of Jesus Christ, under whose cross we are gathered here today. True peace comes from the open heart of the One who, lifted up on the cross, calls everyone to Himself. From today onwards, his symbol will be raised here in Vienna, an important place rich in history, as a hope and a warning to Christians, as a reminder of the Year of Salvation, of the Jubilee Year of Redemption, of a "Katholikentag", which must be a day of Christian hope in the history of this country.

Under this sign of the Cross we place Austria and Europe. For only on the Cross is there hope! With her, life conquered death. The Cross is a symbol of God's love for us men, a love that reconciles, that overcomes pain and death, and that is a promise of fraternity for all men and peoples, a divine source of strength, for the beginning of a renewal of all creation.

2. Today, this solemn celebration of Europe, on the occasion of the Austrian "Katholikentag", casts our gaze beyond all natural, national and artificial limits, on the whole of Europe, on all the peoples of this continent with their common past , from the Atlantic to the Urals, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Austria, located in the heart of Europe, has shared its destinies and contributed to them in a particular way. He showed in an exemplary way how a variety of peoples can live together in a limited space, not without problems, in a creative way, finding unity in the multiplicity: in the territory of this small Austria today, typical characteristics of Celts and Romans, of Germans and Slavs are deeply registered and alive in the population. In this, Austria is a mirror and a model for Europe.

What led the European continent to unity in variety was above all the spread of a single Christian faith. The paths of missionaries and Christian pilgrims peacefully brought together European countries and peoples, and Austria is an important example in this too. Saint Severinus, a Roman, whose jubilee you celebrated recently, contributed to the evangelization of your country, together with other missionaries from different European countries. Your country not only received help from missionaries, but often also gave it to other peoples. Among many others, we remember, for example, in the present circumstance, the founder of the Gray Ursulines, Sister Maria Júlia Ledochowska. Born in Loosdorf near Melk, she worked so beneficially in Poland that in June of this year, during my trip to the Polish homeland, she was able to be beatified.

To the unifying paths of bearers of faith are added those of pilgrims. Pilgrimages to Rome, to the tomb of St. Peter, to Santiago de Compostela following in the footsteps of St. James, to the places where other Saints acted or are buried, and to the great Marian sanctuaries, were not only occupied throughout Europe with the pious remembrance of the Mother of the Lord, the Apostles and the Saints, but they also promoted reciprocal understanding between such diverse peoples and nations. In this way they also contributed to creating the identity of Europe. And precisely to Mariazell, in your country, Christians from all over Europe have come on pilgrimage for centuries, and also many from Slavic countries. I myself, a Pole and a Roman, feel very happy these days to go to Mariazell as a pilgrim.

The cultural unity of the European continent, which remains despite all the crises and divisions, is not understandable without the content of the Christian message. This unity, wonderfully fused with the ancient spirit, constitutes a common heritage, to which Europe owes its wealth and strength, the flourishing development of art and science, of cultural formation and research, of philosophy and culture of the spirit. Within the scope of this Christian spiritual heritage, the Christian image of man has determined European culture in a particular way. The conviction of man's similarity to God and of his Redemption through Jesus Christ, the Son of man, gave a historical-religious foundation to the consideration and dignity of the person, to respect for his demand for free development in human solidarity. In this way, it was a logical consequence that the formulation and proclamation of human rights in general came from the West.

This Europe, united and formed by faith in Christ, we place it once again under the sign of the Cross: for "in the Cross there is hope".

3. No one can ignore the fact — and who is not deeply affected by it — that the common European history has had not only luminous moments but also dark and terrible moments, which are irreconcilable with the spirit of the ideal of humanity and the joyful message of Jesus Christ. Too often, states and parties, with hatred and cruelty, have provoked wars. Too often men have been deprived of their country; they were expelled or forced to flee due to poverty, discrimination and persecution. Millions of men were murdered because of their race and nation, and because of their ideas, or simply because they bothered others. It is depressing to see that faithful Christians were also part of those who oppressed and persecuted their neighbors. If on the one hand we can boast of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His message, on the other we must confess, and ask Him for forgiveness, the many faults with which we Christians are stained, in thoughts, words and works and through defenselessness. indifference to injustice.

Not only in state and political life is the history of Europe characterized by discord. Religious divisions also drew limits and boundaries in the one Church of Jesus Christ. Along with political interests and social problems, there were fierce struggles, oppression, coercion and expulsions of those who professed a different faith. As heirs of our ancestors, we also carry this guilt-laden Europe under the Cross. For there is hope in it.

4. Today's Austria — unfortunately not all of Europe! — is free from foreign domination and the violence of war, free from an immediate external threat, free from internal conflicts. What a positive and memorable difference compared to some previous eras, and in particular that of 1683. This year is an important date, not only for Austrian history, but also for European history, constituting a valid reason for reflection and memory for which we are grateful.

It is known to all of us that 300 years ago the troops of the Ottoman Empire besieged this city, as early as 1529, with a great superiority of forces. The passage of these armies was characterized by the terror of fires, massacres and deportations; The misery, laments and suffering were unspeakable, the courage of Vienna's defenders was admirable. They took the form of their faith, prayer and conviction to fight not only for their country, but also for Europe and Christianity. The Pope has the duty to remember that his predecessor at the time, Blessed Innocent XI, effectively supported Austria and its allies with subsidies, diplomatic assistance and an appeal to prayer addressed to Christianity. The Pope, coming from Poland, was also given the opportunity to speak with particular emotion about the Polish king, Jan Sobieski, at the head of the allied relief troops who liberated Vienna, at a time when the heroic defenders of the city, then with only their last strength, could avoid the occupation. It is fair to remember with admiration the defenders and liberators of Vienna who, with exemplary collaboration, resisted the attack. Appeals were transmitted from preachers who sought to encourage men of that time not only to be bold, but above all to return to Christianity. History requires us to interpret the events of the past with the spirit of the time and not simply evaluate them according to our present moment. It requires avoiding condemnation and unilateral praise. We know that horrible cruelties were inflicted not only by the Ottoman army, but also by the forces of the emperor and his allies. As much as we may be happy with the success in defending the Christian West, we should be ashamed to be aware of the fact that Christian solidarity in the past was neither spontaneous nor European. We are above all aware of the fact that the language of arms is not that of Jesus Christ nor even that of his Mother, to whom then as today we are called to help Christians. There are cases in which armed struggle is an inevitable evil that cannot be avoided in tragic circumstances. But also in this case, the Christian imperative of love for the enemy, of mercy, is binding: He who died on the Cross for his executioners transforms each one of my enemies into a brother, to whom my love is due, even though he defends me from their attack.

Therefore, this Jubilee is not the commemoration of a warlike victory but rather the celebration of a peace that is given to us today in contrast, announced with gratitude, with an event that was linked to such great suffering. We must show ourselves worthy of the freedom that was once defended with such great commitment.

Austria strives today, as in the past, to face its particular responsibility and mission in the heart of Europe. Your country is effectively committed to peace and communication between peoples, social justice, respect and the demand for human rights on a national and international scale. You yourselves welcomed thousands of refugees and refugees; Visitors from all countries in the world come to your country and find welcome and rest. Not only did you receive effective help in difficult times from generous people who helped you, but you also helped other countries, including my Polish homeland. Recognition of European solidarity does not make you close your eyes to the misery and need for help in territories outside Europe. With gratitude I think of your contribution to the development and personal commitment of so many missionaries, sisters and assistants. Your country has — due to its particular position and historical heritage — an important role, above all in creating a more stable and more humane Europe and in reducing international tensions. These efforts deserve praise and encouragement. But at the same time, faced with the continuous and serious difficulties within the community of peoples, they require ever greater commitment. The Catholic Church is in this case, within the scope of its mission, an always generous and supportive ally.

The testament of the decisive event of 1683 left to the Christian churches, contains above all the demand for religious peace — peace between the heirs of Abraham and unity among the brothers of Jesus Christ. The followers of Muhammad, who were once camped as enemies before the gates of your capital, today live among you and often serve as an example in their faithful worship of the only God. The Hebrew community, which once lived so fruitfully with the peoples of Europe and which is now so tragically decimated, admonishes us precisely for this reason to welcome all possibilities of human and spiritual rapprochement, of presenting ourselves together to God and of serving men through Him. The rupture between Christians in 1683, which had tragic effects even in politics, is today an occasion and a call for a conscious community in encounter, prayer and service.

Dear Brothers and Sisters! As I highlighted in my television message last June, Christianity's fruitful commitment to defending the West in 1683 and today's commemoration during the Austrian "Katholikentag" should above all call "Christians to their common responsibility towards Europe and instill in them new courage for a sacrificial commitment to peace and justice, human rights and solidarity among peoples".

On that same occasion I expressed my hope that from your "Katholikentag" "a Christian reflection on the common and deep spiritual roots of your homeland and all of Europe would emerge". Each of you is called to make your personal contribution to the place where you are and according to your possibilities. We, Christians, have the duty, which comes from the depth of our faith and the solidarity commitment for the good of men and society, to testify effectively that true hope lies only on the Cross — for the individual, for the country itself. , for Europe and for all humanity.

You Christians in Austria and in all other countries on the Continent! Bear witness to the deep Christian roots in human and cultural values, which are sacred to you — and to Europe — which have so decisively marked the past and are a guarantee for the future. Show yourselves worthy of those brothers in faith who also today must suffer persecution because of their religious conviction and their way of living Christianity, and who must make great sacrifices. Have the courage and strength — which come from our Christian responsibility — to also commit yourself to politics and public life for the good of man and society in your country and beyond its borders.

In the Cross lies the hope of a Christian renewal of Europe, but only if Christians themselves take the message of the Cross seriously.

Cruz means: giving your life for your brother, to save our lives with his.

Cruz means: love is stronger than hate and revenge — giving causes more joy than receiving — committing is more effective than asking.

Cruz means: there is no shipwreck without hope — there is no darkness without a star — there is no storm without a safe haven.

Cruz means: love knows no borders: it starts with your neighbor but don't forget those who are far away.

Cruz means: God is always greater than us men, he is salvation, even in the greatest setback — life is always stronger than death.

As followers of Christ, dear Brothers and Sisters, you are called to give a liberating response and hope to the men of today who live among multiple threats and tribulations, with the strength that derives for you from the Cross of Christ, with your word filled with of hope and with the Christian example of life.

And take care, above all, of prayer. Pray as the Christians did in the suffering of 1683. Pray, as has been done in your country in an exemplary way for decades in the "Rosary — Crusade of atonement for peace in the world". Gather with me at this hour under the sign of the Cross, which we raised today in this square, for that true crusade of Christian commitment and prayer. As Blessed Pope Innocent the same willingness to sacrifice, the same strength of resistance with which our ancestors then saved Vienna and Europe!

Let us make this decision and place it next to the symbol of the Cross of Christ, Lord of all history, because in His Cross lies true hope and salvation!

"We adore You, Lord Jesus Christ, and we praise You, because through Your Holy Cross, You redeemed the world."

Amen.

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