Europe's heart and soul : Jacques Delors' appeal to the churches

Abstract

Jacques Delors speaking as the European Commission’s President in 1990, made the historic appeal to the churches to contribute to giving Europe “a heart and a soul”. His appeal signaled a new phase in the dialogue between the churches and the European institutions. This publication explains what Delors had in mind. Europe should be more than a market, its future should be based on recovering solidarity in society and on a shared “sense of belonging” to a wider community. The search for a new “meaning” for Europe was a moral and spiritual challenge. Today, the “heart and a soul” appeal still stands. Europe is not only about economics, it is also about values and culture. However, today’s context is that of a European Union facing a deep internal crisis. A “sense of belonging” and dialogue with each other are more necessary than ever. In a world of growing instability, the churches can play an important role in reminding the European Union of its original raison d’être of solidarity, peace and reconciliation.