HOPE, HEALING & HOSPITALITY The report of the 2017 State of Europe Forum Valletta, Malta, May 8 & 9, 2017 Sponsored by Sallux Published by Seismos Press Publishing for Schuman Resources ISBN: - T OWARDS A EUROPE OF HOPE, HEALING & HOSPITALITY T HE REPORT OF THE 2017 STATE OF EUROPE FORUM May 7 & 8, 2017 - Valletta, Malta St Paul's Pro-Cathedral, St Johns Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens & the University of Malta, Valletta Campus. with Mari Blaj, Ahmed Bugre, Katrine Camilleri, Rosemary Caudwell, Florica Chereches, Paul Chetcuti, Julia Doxat-Purser, Lyndon Drake, Pyt Farrugia, J. Fountain (editor), Noemie Montes, Vilver Oras, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Hector Scerri, Charles Scicluna, Branislav Skripek, Henrik Syse, Jonathan Tame, Jennifer Tunehag, Evert Van de Poll, Sue Vella, Arie Vermeij, TABLE OF CONTENTS SUNDAY MAY 7, 2017 ST PAULS PRO-CATHEDRAL, ST JOHNS CO-CATHEDRAL, UPPER BARRAKKA GARDEN 7 8 1. Why this forum? Jeff Fountain 13 2. Towards a Europe of HOPE Jeff Fountain 14 3. Towards a Europe of HEALING Fr Paul Chetcuti SJ 17 Maria Voce 21 Archbishop Scicluna 4. Towards a Europe of HOSPITALITY Ahmed Bugre MONDAY MAY 8, 2017 UNIVERSITY OF MALTA, VALLETTA CAMPUS MORNING 25 PLENARIES 27 1. The State of Europe, anno 2017. Intro: Jeff Fountain 30 2. Europe under threat. (video) George Weigel 3. Panel: The State of Europe, anno 2017 Arie Vermeij, Henrik Syse 33 Katrine Camilleri 36 4. The way forward for Europe Archbishop Scicluna 43 Jonathan Tame 46 Florica Chereches 48 Vanni Xuereb 51 Branislav Skripek 59 5. Faith, Hope and NATO Arie Vermeij 62 Vilver Oras 66 72 Henrik Syse 75 6. Do Hope and Hospitality have limits? Katrine Camilleri Ahmed Bugre Noemi Montes MONDAY MAY 8, 2017 UNIVERSITY OF MALTA, VALLETTA CAMPUS AFTERNOON SEMINARS 1. Interfaith dialogue & peacemaking. Henrik Syse 85 2. Churches & Politics, partners towards hospitable communities. 86 Julia Doxat-Purser 93 Vilver Oras 99 3. Populism, patriotism and hospitality. Rosemary Caudwell 4. French elections, eurocritical movements & church responses. 112 Evert Van de Poll 131 5. Building hospitable communities Jonathan Tame 135 Florica Chereches 138 Hector Scerri 142 6. Economics and artificial intelligence Lyndon Drake CLOSING SESSION 153 1. Building Europe's future together. Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca 157 2. A Malta Manifesto 161 3. St Patrick's Prayer for Europe Mats Tunehag Appendices: 162 Speaker profiles 166 Sallux Report SUNDAY MAY 7, 2017, 17.30 ST PAULS PRO-CATHEDRAL Towards a Europe of Hope The Maltese mens choir, Cappella Sanctae Catarinae 1. Why this forum? Why Malta? Why this date? Jeff Fountain, forum convenor Welcome to this year's State of Europe Forum. The forum has been held each year since 2011 in the capital of the country holding the presidency of the EU on or near Europe Day, May 9: Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Athens, Riga, Amsterdam and now Valletta. This date is the officially recognised birthdate of the European project. It was on this day in 1950 when Robert Schuman, as the French Foreign Minister, proposed for France, Germany and any other democratic countries in Europe who so desired, to place their coal and steel industries under a common supranational authority so that none of these nations could independently begin to build a war machine. Schuman's speech lasted a mere three minutes, roughly the time it takes to boil an egg. In that brief time he laid the foundation for the European house in which today half a billion Europeans from 28 (soon to be 27) nations live together in peace. While his plan has not been faithfully followed, it was the catalyst for the long and eventful process of European cooperation that has continued since that day. The headlines referred to the proposal as the 'Schuman bomb', a plan that 'surprised the nations’. For his decisive statesmanship, Schuman was recognised by the European Assembly, forerunner of the European Parliament, as 'Father of Europe'. Schuman, who was a man of faith and prayer, dreamed of Europe becoming a 'community of peoples deeply rooted in basic Christian values'. This forum aims to provide a framework for the evaluation of the state of Europe today in the light of that dream. The forum aims to be pan-European (not just the EU), trans-confessional (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and Pentecostal) and multi-disciplinary. We wish to thank the Chancellor of the St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, the Reverend Canon Simon Godfrey, and the Archbishop of Malta, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of St John's Co-Cathedral, for the generous use of these magnificent sanctuaries; the Maltese mens choir, Cappella Sanctae Catarinae for their unique contributions in song, and Maestro Hamish Dustagheer, Director of Music, St John's Co-Cathedral who also played the organ at the St Paul's celebration. Our thanks also go to Sallux for advice and financial support of this event. 2. Towards a Europe of HOPE Jeff Fountain The rich heritage of Malta holds important lessons concerning challenges facing Europe today. We are most grateful for the cooperation from local leaders, including Professor Dr. Hector Scerri and other members of the Christians Together in Malta committee, who helped with choice and outworking of the theme: Hope, Healing and Hospitality. Let us reflect on three episodes from the Malta story which teach us something about hope relevant for Europe today. I. PAUL’S SHIPWRECK: We all know something of this famous story that happened here on the Maltese shoreline. How can this story inspire hope as we face today’s storms of financial, political, social, religious and envi- ronmental storms? Acts 27:13-15.19-20 A violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship could not be turned head-on into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars ap peared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Acts 27:21-26 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” Acts 27:39-44 In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering- -oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land. Paul’s trauma brought healing and salvation for the Maltese. Lesson: God can still bring blessing out of human adversities. Congregational prayer responses: Almighty Father and ever-living God, we too face many storms in our own life experiences. We trust in you and so turn to you, as we pray: Lord, fountain of all hope, hear us. When faced with the terrible news of terrorist violence in Europe, particularly during the last months and weeks – Paris, Brussels, Nice, Berlin, London, St Petersburg, Stockholm – we are overcome with fear. And so, Lord, we ask for your protection. Lord, fountain of all hope, hear us. May all European leaders, during their meetings, seek what is truly the common good, that all nations show solidarity among themselves, as well as with nations outside the European Union, and outside our continent. Lord, fountain of all hope, hear us. Lord, may all men and women of good will, like the people of Malta who welcomed Paul and the 275 individuals on the shipwrecked vessel, show loving hospitality and boundless generosity to all, especial ly those most in need. Lord, fountain of all hope, hear us. II. THE GREAT SIEGE: When in 1565 an Ottoman armada of over 200 ships and some 48,000 soldiers besieged Malta, the Knights numbered only 500, supported by just 5600 other soldiers, galley slaves and servants. Here is an inspiring story about how Suffering produces perseverance produces hope. Lesson: unity with diversity can overcome over-whelming odds. Psalm 20:1-9 1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.