What happened?
Pope Francis addressed the leaders of the European Union on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. He called on the EU to “invest in development and in peace”, which includes “the dignity of labour, decent living conditions, access to education and necessary medical care”.
The Pope said peace could not prevail when “people are cast aside or forced to live in dire poverty”, adding: “There is no peace without employment and the prospect of earning a dignified wage.”
What the British media said
The Guardian interpreted the Pope’s speech as a warning to Brexiteers, reporting: “Pope Francis has urged European leaders to resist the ‘false forms of security’ promised by those who want to wall themselves off, just days before Theresa May triggers Article 50 negotiations.” It quoted the Pontiff as saying: “Europe finds new hope when she refuses to yield to fear or close herself off in false forms of security.” He also praised “leadership which avoids appealing to emotions to gain consent” and instead practises “solidarity and subsidiarity.”
Meanwhile, the Independent highlighted Francis’s warning that the EU faced “a vacuum of values.” The Pope added: “When a body loses its sense of direction and is no longer able to look ahead, it experiences a regression and, in the long run, risks dying.”
What the Vaticanisti said
America magazine emphasised the Pope’s support for the European Union, reporting: “Francis believes in the EU, and sees its importance not only for the peoples of this continent but also for peace and development in the world; but he is convinced it must be reformed.” It went on: “He recalled that from the outset the founding fathers understood that the Treaty would remain a dead letter unless they had ‘spirit and life’ and so they agreed that ‘the first element of European vitality must be solidarity’. Francis emphasised that this spirit of solidarity ‘remains as necessary as ever today’.”
Catholicculture.org observed that, unlike Benedict XVI and St John Paul II, Pope Francis did not focus on Europe’s loss of shared Christian identity, but “spoke more generally about the foundation of European society”.
The most overlooked story of the week
✣ Hundreds protest against new Catholic church
What happened?
Indonesian police fired tear gas last week to disperse hardline Muslims protesting against the construction of a Catholic church in a satellite city of the capital, Jakarta. Several hundred protesters staged a rowdy demonstration in front of the Santa Clara Church in Kaliabang, a neighbourhood of Bekasi city, after Friday prayers.
Why was it under-reported?
Extremism has long been a problem in the world’s most populous Muslim country. In 2000 a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda set off bombs in churches across the country on Christmas Eve, killing 18 people. Two years later the same group committed the Bali atrocities which left 202 dead.
Compared with this carnage, hurling rocks and bottles and trying to break into a church under construction is not as newsworthy. Indonesia is seen as a “moderate” Muslim country. Elsewhere, in Saudi Arabia, for instance, churches are illegal.
What will happen next?
The fact that police actually responded to the protesters by firing tear gas is significant. The Asia Times reported that “not long ago, they would have stood idly by and done nothing”. The reason for this, according to the paper, is the arrival of police chief General Tito Karnavian, a Muslim who is concerned about the rise of Islamic extremism. General Tito has previously sacked a police chief for failing to protect Christians from a Muslim mob. His arrival seems to bode well for the future of Christians in Indonesia.
✣The week ahead
Pope Francis is due to visit the town of Carpi in northern Italy on Tuesday to meet those affected by the 2012 earthquake, which also damaged the Cathedral of Mirandola. The Pope will celebrate Mass and bless three new diocesan buildings. He will meet priests and Religious and visit the sites damaged in the earthquake, which killed more than 20 people.
At 6pm today Cardinal Vincent Nichols and author Roy Hattersley will discuss the history of the Church in Britain and Ireland. The event will take place at Bodleian Divinity School at the University of Oxford. Tickets are £12.50.
The English group which works for unity between Anglicans and Catholics (ARC) will meet today and tomorrow in Leicestershire.
The meeting will be chaired by Archbishop Bernard Longley and attended by Bishops Robert Byrne and Paul Hendricks. The group will consider how the two communities can jointly witness to Christ in a secular society.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.