Leaders representing a number of different religious faiths came together in Strasbourg to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Saint Ambrose. Ambrose, an early father of the church, was civil governor, and subsequently bishop of Milan, and a distinguished writer on church-state relations.
In spite of the history of religious intolerance, expulsion, persecution and war, speakers stressed the importance of continually recognising the common values existing within their respective doctrines. They believed that morality, compassion, love and generosity could be found in many of the basic beliefs of different faiths.
In commemoration of St Ambrose's death, 1,600 years ago, the European Parliament was hosting a symposium entitled "Remembering the origins of the process of European integration" with guest speakers representing the three major monotheistic religions of Europe; Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Pointing out that Europeans consistently discuss "the future of Europe, the future of social policy and the future of telecommunications", President Jose Maria Gil-Robles felt it important and refreshing to look "right back to the dawn of our civilisation". He added that, while Europe owes much to Christianity as "the main reference for the shared values of the European civilisation", Judaism and Islam "belong to our shared roots".
Half of Europe has been orthodox since the dawn of the middle ages; Islam had left an indelible mark on Spain, and the Jewish quarters of many European cities are right in their centres. "Now we have to examine how to convert this common heritage into a source of fresh energy, extracting certain shared ethical values."
Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, archbishop of Milan, reminded those present of the great qualities of St Ambrose, who was both a "local and universal man". Ambrose fostered ideas of a "family of nations" by travelling throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, spreading his doctrine of the sacred nature of life, the dignity of man, tolerance, compassion, and charity of spirit and wealth.
Dr Mark Santer, bishop of Birmingham, spoke with regret of the role churches had played, not only in the divisions between different faiths but also between peoples and cultures, evident even today in Bosnia, the Middle East and Northern Ireland. These histories must not be forgotten, but learned from.
Other speakers included Dr Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Mosque of Paris, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, archbishop of Prague, pastor Jacques Stewart, chairman of the European Ecumenical Commission for Church and Society, and bishop Emmanuel of Reghion, director of the Orthodox Church's Representation to the EU.