Paris: French, German and Swiss Bishops discuss future of Europe

Two months ahead of the European elections, bishops from France, Germany and Switzerland have been meeting for a seminar in Paris to discuss the 'European Common Good'. Jointly organised by the French, German and Swiss episcopal conferences, the event was presided over by the three presidents of the Bishops' Conferences: Archbishop of Marseille, Georges Pontier, Archbishop of Munich, Cardinal Reinhard Marx and Bishop of Bâle, Félix Gmür.

Among the participants were former government ministers of the three countries, as well as university professors and journalists.

In a press release, the bishops said they were "convinced that a relaunching of the European project happens through a redefinition of the common good" and that the former notion of the European common good as merely "peace between European nations" is no longer sufficient.

They cited difficulties such as economic inequality, the rise of populism, uncertainty around Brexit and the environmental crisis as reasons for the need to look differently at the European project, so as to "breathe new life" into it.

On the day of the opening of the seminar, the French Bishops' Conference released a letter encouraging all Christians and citizens in France to vote in the upcoming European elections.

"Certain solutions cannot be found on a single national level", they said, and encouraged Catholics in France and Europe to ask the patron saints of the European continent for their intercession on behalf of its citizens and public servants.