II Meeting of European OFM-JPIC
II Encuentro de Europeo OFM-JPIC
18-23 Oct 2004, Santiago de Compostela

With the opening prayer, the II European Congress JPIC began the first day of activities. Friars from most of the Franciscan provinces in Europe gathered together in this land of pilgrimage -- witness of faith -- in order to respond to the calling of a proposal "for a solidary Europe".

Br. Armando Gonzalez, Provincial Minister of Galicia welcomed the friars. In the name of the Spanish Conference, Br. Francisco Garcia extended his welcome and underlined the importance of the service animation committee of the JPIC in energizing Franciscan presence in Europe. Today the old Europe is being rejuvenated thanks to the European Union, but is also confronted with new challenges like putting into practice a culture of human rights, increasing awareness for respect of the environment and respond to a calling to assume coexistence and toleration as signs of a multicultural context.

Br. Cesare Azimonti situated the II Congress within a continuity of work proposals of the I Congress of the JPIC &Mac246; celebrated in Assisi. Br. Francisco de Castro entitled his conference: "Europe was born pilgrimaging to Santiago", called the brothers to adhere to a dynamics of peregrination during this meeting, a search for confirmation of their faith.

Later each province presented a report about its activities, emphasizing the importance of JPIC for initial and permanent formation and attending to different evangelization services. The fact, that many brothers of the JPIC are already in service of solidarity has to be underlined. "Solidarity" does not just pretend to be the slogan of this Congress, but describes the presence solidarity of the Franciscans among the excluded and those who are victims of any type of violence in Europe.

In the afternoon session the euro-parliamentarian, Mr. Vittorio Prodi called upon the brothers to have more communication with the centres of power, so that the decisions of the governments may be more oriented toward respect for human rights and the protection of the environment. Most questions of the brothers were directed on how the European Union could heighten awareness for existing differences so as to counteract discrimination and racism; the discussion was not conclusive.

Br. Rupert Schwartzl, Provincial Minister of Austria and president of the UFME, called upon the brothers, to put into practice the proposals of the General Chapter of 2003 of Franciscan presence in disruptive situations in Europe where life is threatened; this way our Franciscan presence in the world will become more vigorous and fully in accordance with what the Church has asked for at the onset of the new millennium.

At night the East Slav Conference animated a moment of emotional togetherness.