John Paul's dream

Poor is the people that does not have a dream. It is in the nature of great leaders to propose their peoples with dream that are big enough to aspire too and near enough as to be possible to achieve at least in part.

Martin Luther King had spun his dream for a better America in front of hundreds of thousands who marched from all corners of that great land to condemn is despicable lifestyle of discrimination.

King died for that dream. His dream lives on - part of it fulfilled while other parts invite fulfilment.

Pope John Paul II has just expressed his dream for a united Europe. Throughout the years he harped in season and out of season on the themes which now he so clearly explained once more. The occasion was his receiving the Charlemagne Prize awarded by the German city of Aachen.

The city's mayor, Jürgen Linden, and the president of the prize's executive council, Professor Walter Eversheim, presented the award in a ceremony held in the Vatican. The Charlemagne Prize was awarded to the Pope in recognition of his life's work promoting European understanding in the service of humanity and world peace.

"I think of a Europe without egotistic nationalisms, in which nations are considered as living centres of a cultural richness that is worthy of being protected and promoted for the benefit of all," the Pope said.

The human being is at the centre of this dream. In the Pope's perspective all human activity is targeted at the every man especially those in need. "I think of a Europe in which the achievements of science, economics and social welfare are not directed to senseless consumption but are at the service of every man in need and of solidarity for those countries trying to reach the goal of social security."

Peace and freedom are two of the pillars of the Pope's Europe.

"May Europe, which in history has suffered so many bloody wars, be able to become an active agent of peace in the world! ... I think of a Europe whose unity is based on authentic freedom. Freedom of religion and social liberties have matured as precious fruits on the 'humus' of Christianity. Without freedom, there is no responsibility, neither before God nor before men," he continued.

Another pillar the Pope augurs that Europe is built on is the family. "How can a youthful generation be born that is open to truth, to beauty, to nobility, to what is worthy of sacrifice, if in Europe the family no longer appears as an institution open to life and to selfless love?" He looks at an extended family or a family of which the elderly also form part, "promoting what is most important: the active transmission of values and of the meaning of life."

The Pope as always goes beyond the idea that Europe is an economic entity. He looks at it as a political entity and then moves on to looking at Europe as a spiritual entity! A human after all is not just a material being. John Paul II, as a consequence, looks at a Europe "in which Christian politicians of all the countries act with the awareness of the human riches that faith contributes: men and women committed to having these values be fruitful, putting themselves at the service of all for a Europe of man, in which the face of God will shine."

The Pope's speech provides all Christian with a great challenge. All Christian in this old continent which is experiencing the birth of new forms must work to put into practice this dream.