Pope urges Europe not to forget moral, Gospel values

February 08, 2013 - The moral law written in the heart of man and the values of the Gospel must continue to be the pillars of a policy aimed at the good of man. This was stressed by Pope Benedict XVI in a message to a conference in Rome marking 50 years of a treaty between France and Germany, reconciling the two former foes. The Elysee Treaty was signed by Charles de Gaulle of France and Germany's Konrad Adenauer on Jan. 22, 1963. “Fifty Years of Franco-German Friendship at the Service of Europe: the European Union, a Model for Other Reconciliations?” was the theme of the conference sponsored by the French and German Embassies to the Holy See at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University. The message sent on the Pope’s behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and read on Thursday at the conference by Vatican Secretary for Relations with State, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, drew attention to the spirit of reconciliation as envisaged by the fathers of the Elysee Treaty, saying “peace is not a tranquil absence of conflict but a daily commitment that is built in the heart of each one.” In this regard, the Pope wished that Franco-German friendship work towards building peace in Europe and in the world. It is a commitment that should continue and must be fulfilled continuously.