The Pope in Metz: “Neither rearmament nor naïve pacifism”

Rome. The camera lingered on the faces of princes and co-princes, grand dukes and presidents, Excellencies and Eminences, whilst the Pope spoke of Europe and outlined ‘the figure of the venerable Robert Schuman’. You could have heard a pin drop; the faces were wide awake and attentive, and not just because it was late morning in Metz, in northern France. This alone would suffice to convey the solemnity of the moment – a thoroughly secular liturgy in which the Roman Pontiff quoted the founding fathers and declared that the future must indeed be the one outlined by Schuman, a “reconciled, united and strong” Europe that “may henceforth become the motto for the younger generations, eager to serve a humanity finally freed from hatred and fear, which, after too long a period of division, is relearning Christian brotherhood”. What is this Europe, so dear to the venerable and soon-to-be-beatified? It is the one which, as Leo XIV said, “is based on respect for international law which, unlike national laws, cannot be imposed by force by a state, but is founded on the universally recognised principle that pacta sunt servanda”. And alongside international law stands multilateralism, “the best antidote to the desire for domination”. The times we live in are what they are, with “human relations and relations between states” becoming “increasingly barbaric. The value of one’s word is scorned; instead, people boast of lies and deceit. Europe can put an end to this downward spiral thanks to the respect for others that it has been able to cultivate and preserve”. 

‘Realism and courage’ are needed; the yearning for peace must be safeguarded and nurtured, and it would be unthinkable for a Pope who has made unarmed and disarming peace his post-election slogan not to say so. However, we must look deeper, beyond the street marches amidst shrouds staged for the cameras and appearances on evening talk shows: “The pursuit of peace in Europe, as in the rest of the world, must not be confused with a naïve irenicism. On the contrary, Schuman’s words are more relevant than ever: ‘World peace cannot be safeguarded without creative efforts commensurate with the dangers that threaten it’”. At the same time, the Pope reiterates his rejection of rearmament, which he describes as an “illusion”: “Promoting peace is an active endeavour” and “today we must ask ourselves whether we are truly making ‘creative efforts’ to promote world peace, or whether we are simply trying to ‘stem the tide of war’ and better prepare ourselves for those we presume are yet to come”. Here, with all due respect, one might point out that the principle is sound and even sacrosanct, but that to engage in dialogue as Schuman hoped, there would need to be at least two parties involved: Emmanuel Macron, in his speech, spoke of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Dialogue is possible with Zelensky, the victim of that aggression. The one who says ‘ni’et’ is a few thousand kilometres further north, along the Moskva River. The Europe outlined by the Pontiff of Chicago is Christian: “One cannot therefore speak of Europe without mentioning Christianity. Robert Schuman was well aware of this when he stated: ‘Christianity has taught the inherent equality of all men, children of the same God, redeemed by the same Christ, without distinction of race, colour, class or profession. It has led to the recognition of the dignity of work and the obligation for all to engage in it. It has recognised the primacy of inner values which, alone, ennoble humankind. The universal law of love and charity has made every person our neighbour, and it is upon this that social relations in the Christian world have been based ever since”.

In Metz too, the Pope returned to the subject of secularism, one of the key themes that dominated his triumphant visit to France. On this occasion, he cited Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which encourages ‘an open, transparent and regular dialogue with the Churches’. This is significant because “the secularism that governs the life of states does not merely imply the non-denominational nature of civil institutions, but presupposes genuine collaboration between the parties, as well as respect, on the part of state and EU authorities, for the autonomy of the Churches and the promotion of their freedom of organisation, expression and worship”. Ultimately, Leone said, “it is a matter of returning to the source of the values that form the foundation of civil coexistence, namely the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the person, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law”. After Mass in Metz Cathedral (which the President also attended, despite his presence not having been originally planned), the Pope set off for Rome. He was seen off by Macron and his wife, a squadron of hussars and the gentle sunset over the Moselle.