Europe no longer Europe without marriage

“Europe would no longer be Europe” if the basic cell of the marriage “disappears or is transformed”, said Pope Benedict Thursday in his message to the new Hungarian ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Gábor Győriványi.

In his message Pope Benedict says at a European level Hungary is called to be a “mediator between East and West”. After pointing out that early next year, for the first time, Hungary will hold the rotating EU Presidency, he expressed his hopes that the new Hungarian Constitution will be inspired by Christian values, especially regards "the position of marriage and the family in society."

"Marriage – says the Pope - has given Europe its unique appearance and humanism”, this because of the innate characteristic of loyalty and sacrifice that is part of married life. "Europe would no longer be Europe - observes the Pope - if such a basic cell of society disappeared or were substantially transformed." He goes on to say that marriage and family are now affected by the erosion of their "values of stability and insolubility," because of "the growing liberalization of divorce, the increasingly widespread habit of cohabitation”, because of the "different kinds of union which have no foundation in the cultural or legal history of Europe".

The Church - adds the Pope - can not approve "of legislative initiatives that involve the enhancement of alternative models of married life and family." These models contribute to "the weakening of the principles of natural law and thus to the relativization of law," as well as to the weakening of "awareness of society's values". Today we have an increasingly globalised society that makes us neighbors, but not brothers. Reason - observes Pope Benedict - is in a position "to guarantee equality among men" but "fails to establish fraternity," which in a sense - points out the Pope - "is the other side of freedom and equality. " "It opens us up to altruism, civic duty, attention to the other."

Pope Benedict also recalls the recent history of Hungary, after the Second World War, marked by the tragic experience of a communist regime. The pope hopes that "the deep wounds of the materialistic view of man" may continue "to heal in a climate of peace, freedom and respect for human dignity." Finally the Holy Father emphasizes, how the Catholic faith is, no doubt, "part of the basic pillars of Hungarian history." "The sense of justice and human virtues" of the great Hungarian king St. Stephen "is a high benchmark that serves as a stimulus and imperative, then as now, to those who are entrusted with the role of government."