(November 11, 2008) Europe should not forget the tragedy instigated by the Nazi regime,
but rather ensure that history does not repeat itself, says a Vatican official. Archbishop
Jean-Louis Bruguès, secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, affirmed
this at the fourth seminar for ministers of nations that belong to the European Cultural
Convention, which took place last week in Nuremberg and Dachau. Referring to the site,
the prelate said Nuremberg "was a witness of the massive Nazi gatherings, but also
of the proceedings against those who had stained themselves with grave crimes against
humanity." These facts speak "of the drama of an epoch in which liberty and justice
were denied and the dignity of man was trampled upon," he said. It is important, Archbishop
Bruguès continued, to keep alive the memory of these facts, especially as time passes
and there are fewer remaining eye witnesses, so that "a similar tragedy is not repeated
in any corner of Europe." "The memory of the drama of the victims, the honour of their
memory, demands that everyone realize that those sinister circumstances should be
a call to responsibility for constructing the today and tomorrow of our continent,"
he said. The Vatican official noted that rights and liberty "are essential to avoid
falling again into totalitarianism that does not respect man." Still, he said, rights
should be founded on an elevated sense of dignity and justice. "Protecting the dignity
of man does not mean merely not killing, torturing or mutilating him," he explained.
"It also means allowing for the possibility of satisfying the hunger and thirst for
justice of which man is capable." Archbishop Bruguès contended that it is necessary
to "redouble efforts" in the fight against racism, exclusion, marginalization and
xenophobia, and cautioned that hints of these evils can be found in modern society.
In this regard, the prelate added, the Holy See praises the efforts of the countries
that have signed the convention to "contribute through education to the construction
of a more solidary and democratic Europe, which respects diversity and is aware of
its identity." The purification of memory should contribute, he added, citing words
from Benedict XVI in Auschwitz in 2006, to "learn to love together." It is about "making
man more human," man who "can be more, and not just have more, who can learn to live
not only with others, but for others." "The duty of memory," the archbishop concluded,
"should continue moving our hearts and our minds to lead reason to recognize evil
and reject it, to stir up in us the courage of goodness and resistance to evil."