COMMUNION AND LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 2016 6 VOL. 18TRACES LITTERAE COMMUNIONIS THE WELLSPRING OF HAPPINESS A report from Africa to discover what makes life beautiful. And how God quietly builds His story within history. Content042016_Layout 2 13/04/16 10.59 Pagina 2 CONTENTS April, 2016 Vol.18 - No. 4 CONTENTS June, 2016 Vol.18 - No. 6 Communion and Liberation International Magazine - Vol. 18 ComEditorialmunion aOffice:nd Liberation Via Porpora, 127 - 20131 Milano CLOSEBRUS UPSELS InteTel.rna ++39(02)28174400tional Magazine - Vol. 18 Fax ++39(02)28174401 E-mail: [email protected] Internet:www.tracesonline.orgEditorial Office: AFRICATHE MOMENT EditorVia P o(direttorerpora, 12 responsabile):7 - 20131 Milano TeDavidel. ++39( 0Perillo2)28174400 Vice-editor: FPaolaax ++ 3Bergamini9(02)28174401 AFTER Editorial Assistant: HE WHO DIRECTS E-mail: [email protected] Anna Leonardi nd InterFromnet: w Newww .York,trace sNY:online.org The terrorist attacks on March 22 shook Europe, but Holly Peterson THEthey also mROADade people stop taking their daily lives for GraphicEditor ( dDesign:irettore G&C, resp oMilanonsabile): Davide Cestari, Lucia Crimi granted. Here, we offer stories of the people in Brussels Davide Perillo One hundred CL leaders from 12 countries around who asked themselves what their lives are founded upon. Photo: KingoriVic eSimon-edito Ndegwa:r: the continent gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for a three-day Cover, 6/13; Shutterstock: 14-15; OsservatorePao Romano:la Berga m16-17,ini 22; meeting. Here is the report of what happened. GettyImages:Editoria 19;l A sReuters:sistant: 22 PublishersAnna L (editore):eonardi Società Coop. Edit. Nuovo Mondo Via Porpora,From N127ew - 20131York, MilanoNY: Editorial A Boundless Question 3 Reg. TribunaleHolly di P eMilanoterson n°. 740 - 28 ottobre 1998 Editorial Seeking Nothing Else 1 Iscrizione nel Registro degli Graphic OperatoriDesign: G&C, Milano di Comunicazione n. 6.147 Davide Cestari, Lucia Crimi Letters Edited by Paola Bergamini 4 © Fraternità di Comunione e Liberazione for the texts by LuigiPho Giussanito: Cove andr: Sh Juliánutters Carróntock; Letters Edited by Paola Bergamini 4 GettyImages: 8, 12-13, 16/19; Close up Latin America The Revolution by Alessandra Stoppa 6 Reuters: 8; K. Kardava: 14; CLICK HERE TOK. ADOWNLOADntunes: 6, 8/11; Time to Learn by Alessandra Stoppa 10 Osservatore Romano: 9 Close up 6 Africa He Who Directs the Road by Alessandra Stoppa ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS SPEECH ON THE CONFERRAL OF THE CHARLEMAGNE PRIZE “WHATP HASub HAPPENEDlishers TO ( eYOU,dit EUROPE?”ore): Vatican City, Sala Regia. Friday, May 6, 2016 istinguished Ladies and Gentle- and there. Nonetheless, I am convinced that resi- Belgium Brussels The Moment After by Luca Fiore 12 men, I offer you a cordial wel- gnation and weariness do not belong to the soul of come and I thank you for your Europe, and that even “our problems can become Società Coop. Edit. Nu2 ovo Mondo presence. I am particularly gra- powerful forces for unity.” teful to Messrs Marcel Philipp, Jürgen Linden, Martin Schulz, In addressing the European Parliament, I used the Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald image of Europe as a grandmother. I noted that there Tusk for their kind words. I would like to reitera- is a growing impression that Europe is weary, aging, te my intention to offer this prestigious award for no longer fertile and vital, that the great ideals that ViEurope.a ForP ourso is notr sop mucho a rcelebrationa, as1 a 2inspired7 Europe- 2 seem0 to have1 lost3 their1 appeal. M Therei lano moment to express our shared hope for a new and is an impression that Europe is declining, that it has courageous step forward for this beloved continent. lost its ability to be innovative and creative, and that Europe 14 A Call for Each of Us by Costantino Esposito it is more concerned with preserving and dominating Creativity, genius and a capacity for rebirth and spaces than with generating processes of inclusion renewal are part of the soul of Europe. In the last and change. There is an impression that Europe is Only Mercy Is the True Reaction to Evil by Julián Carrón 15 century, Europe bore witness to humanity that a new tending to become increasingly “entrenched,” rather Rebeginningg .was Tindeedr possible.ibu Aftern yearsa of tragicle thand openi Mto initiatingil newa socialn processeso n capable° . 740 conflicts, culminating in the most horrific war ever of engaging all individuals and groups in the search known, there emerged, by God’s grace, something for new and productive solutions to current pro- completely new in human history. The ashes of the blems. Europe, rather than protecting spaces, is called ruins could not extinguish the ardent hope and the to be a mother who generates processes (cf. Apostolic quest of solidarity that inspired the founders of the Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 223). European project. They laid- the2 foundations8 o fort a tobre 1998 bastion of peace, an edifice made up of states united What has happened to you, the Europe of huma- not by force but by free commitment to the com- nism, the champion of human rights, democracy mon good and a definitive end to confrontation. and freedom? What has happened to you, Europe, “Your Holiness, If You’ll Permit...” by Joseph H.H. Weiler 18 Europe, so long divided, finally found its true self the home of poets, philosophers, artists, musicians, and began to build its house. and men and women of letters? What has happened to you, Europe, the mother of peoples and nations, IscrThisiz “familyio nof peoples,”e n1 whiche hasl Rcommene- gtheis mothertr ofo great d mene andg womenli whoO upheld,pe ratori dably expanded in the meantime, seems of late to and even sacrificed their lives for, the dignity of their feel less at home within the walls of the common brothers and sisters? home. At times, those walls themselves have been built in a way varying from the insightful plans left The writer Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Nazi death by the original builders. Their new and exciting de- camps, has said that what we need today is a “me- sire to create unity seems to be fading; we, the heirs mory transfusion.” We need to “remember,” to take of their dream,d arei temptedCo to myield tou our nown iselc- aa stepz backio fromn thee present n to. listen 6 to. the1 voice4 of7 fish interests and to consider putting up fences here I. R. our forebears. Remembering will help us not to repe- Witnesses Syria Return to Damascus by Luca Fiore 16 1 THE© Fr aDOCUMENTternità di Comunione The year of mercy Confession An Amazing Moment by Alessandra Stoppa 20 Addresse Liberazio ofne fPopeor the t eFrancisxts by Luig i onG theiussa coferralni and Juliá nof C atherrón Year of Mercy Witnesses The Happy Life of Jean by Maurizio Vitali 20 Charlemagne Prize. LUIGI GIUSSANI This volume is a selection of the most memorable passages from works such as At significant writings by Monsignor Luigi the Origin of the Christian Claim, The Journey Giussani (1922-2005), founder of the Italian to Truth is an Experience, Why the Church?, Catholic lay movement Communion and Generating Traces in the History of the World, Liberation, which is practised in eighty and Is It Possible to Live This Way? Many speak countries around the world. of Giussani as a friendly presence, a man who believed that it was possible to live in Presented by Julián Carrón, Giussani's faith every day and in any circumstance. As a 5 1 successor as head of Communion and writer and religious scholar who was deeply Liberation, Christ, God's Companionship with devoted to his work, Giussani’s teachings and Man is the most succinct introduction to the reflections have come to generate worldwide 0 2 : r a e breadth of Giussani’s thought, including recognition and support. MCGILL-QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY PRESS Y - 2 2 1 : s e g a P EDITORIAL Seeking nothing else f there’s a word that can provoke instant disagreement and controversy today, it’s “Europe.” Not only because the Union is tangled in a knot of challenges proving harder and harder to unravel (the influx of migrants, the raising of walls, the risk of “Brexit,” weak economies), but even more because of the sense of disappointment, a deep uneasiness that sometimes wells up to the point of rejecting everything: moving from a common project of peace, solidarity and well-being–a European dream somewhat parallel to the American one–to the feeling of having to deal with an entity that’s at the same time distant from the needs of individual people, invasive into Idaily life, and incapable of solving problems. However, these contradictions could be taken as a good opportunity to learn and to un- derstand. First of all, to learn why a condition of peace which was taken almost for granted– we’ve never seen three generations grow up without a war in Europe–is at risk of crumbling in a short time. Second, to see if and how we can begin again–if it’s possible to hope for “a new beginning,” as Julián Carrón asked asked in a debate, two years ago, on Europe. And to see if it’s possible now, because a glorious history and a starting point well-grounded in firm values like those of the founding fathers is not enough. What’s needed is a “rebirth,” something capable of “bringing back pure water to the roots of Europe.” It’s just as Pope Francis suggested, in the speech he made a few weeks back, addressing the leaders of the European Union when they gave him the Charlemagne Prize, which we cover in this issue of Traces.