Wypych, Stanisław2022-12-132022-12-132005Polonia Sacra, 2005, R. 9 (27), Nr 17 (61), s. 279-308.1428-5673http://theo-logos.pl/xmlui/handle/123456789/2191From the beginning of his pontificate John Paul II expressed a wish that Europe should breathe with “two lungs” He considered his appointment to St. Peter's chair as a sign of Providence calling for unification. He was convinced that those who believe in Christ should have a considerable part in this process. Upon the establishing of the Solidarity movement in Poland and pulling down the Berlin Wall the pope opened a Special Assembly of World Synod of Bishops (1991 and 1999) so that the participants might try to read what the Holy Spirit was telling the inhabitants of Europe in the new situation. The participants saw an urgent need of a new evangelization of Europe and preaching hope to its inhabitants. Although the population of Europe comprise nations of various languages, traditions, cultures and civilizations (Greek and Roman civilization together with Germanic, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Hungarian-Finnish, Slavonic world, the world of the Jewish and Islamic tradition), the evangelization – by creating a certain unity – influenced the legislative, artistic, literary and philosophical spheres. We owe the evangelization of Europe to St. Peter and St. Paul, the patron saints of the continent, as well as numerous hosts of thinkers, scholars, explorers, inventors, politicians and saints. The merits of the missionaries of Europe, who preached the Good News and spread intellectual and technological progress on other continents, cannot go unnoticed, either. John Paul II stresses the fact that religion cannot be reduced just to the life private sphere as these are Christian values that should have influence on the unity of Europe and shape the life of its inhabitants also today. It is necessary to respect human dignity and man's inviolable rights: to live, to freedom of conscience, thought and religion, physical and psychological inviolability. In social, economic and political life a necessity of a good conscience is felt. Influence of the Gospel on creating European culture is also important as a nation exists “because of culture” and “for culture” and thanks to its genuine culture becomes fully free and sovereign. Mass media – imbued with Evangelical values – awaken conscience, guard man's rights, direct man's awareness to good, freedom, justice and peace. Ignoring ethical rules by technological progress may lead to a crisis. There will be no true unity if Europe does not become a union of spirit. These convictions on the roots of culture in Europe do not hide from the pope's sight a very realistic assessment of the present religious and social situation on this continent. Numerous wars led to discrimination, persecution, spreading of the “culture of death”, contempt for man and and his rights. The regimes of the after-war period made the situation still worse. The consumption attitude has led to an unjust distribution of material goods and the number of the poor, the unemployed, pensioners and numerous families has been on the increase. The globalization process may lead to a situation in which the rich will grow in their wealth, while the poor will become yet poorer. Economic factors cause disintegration of family, have negative influence on birthrate, there appears dangerous manipulation in the field of genetics and embriology and life from the moment of conception to natural death is no longer respected. A loss of balance can be observed primarily in man's moral and spiritual sphere – subjectivism, moral and ethical relativism, also in the sphere of cognizance. The result is an inner vacuum, losing the sense of living while the process of secularization, agnosticism, secularization, thrusting religion to the private sphere of man's life are the reason why many live as if God did not exist.plAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Polandhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/pl/Jan Paweł IIKarol WojtyłaEuropaadhortacja apostolskaEcclesia in EuropaKościółkonsumpcjahomiliaapostazjareligiaduchowośćkulturacywilizacjaBibliaPismo Święteewangelizacjachrystianizacjahistoria KościołaapostołowiechrześcijaństwowartościjednośćJohn Paul IIpopesEuropeapostolic exhortationChurchconsumptionhomilyapostasyreligionspiritualityculturecivilisationBibleevangelizationChristianizationChurch historyapostlesChristianityvaluesunityadhortacjaexhortationdokumenty KościołaMagisterium KościoładuchowieństwoclergypriesthoodkapłanikazaniasermonsArticle