Kulturowe uwarunkowania adhortacji apostolskiej Jana Pawła II „Ecclesia in Europa”

Abstract

The author of the article analyzes John Paul II’s adhortation Ecclesia in Europa with respect to the Church’s role of creating culture in Europe. He first focuses his attention on the Pope’s diagnosis of cultural facts, among which he discusses anthropology without God, the so-called “silent apostasy”, and Europe’s loss of memory and of the Christian heritage. Next culture of death, that is condemned by the Pope is analyzed. The author shows that John Paul II notices in Europe a new type of culture that is being born. It is mainly created by mass media. It is contrary to the Gospel and to the dignity of the human person. Religious agnosticism, ever more intensive moral and legal relativism, and a loss of the revealed truth about man are its most characteristic features. This type of culture is classified by the Pope as “culture of death” The next issue touched upon in the article is the hope connected with the Pope’s vision of Europe in the 3rd millennium. John Paul II points to re-building the family, the state, and creating the culture of life.