The disintegration of Yugoslavia "and the catastrophic human suffering that accompanied it, bears testament that Europe must never become complacent about peace", a service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome was told in Dublin yesterday.
The European Union founders "had a vision which transcended narrow nationalism and that looked to a bigger community", but Europe was now at risk of losing vision "in an ever more materialistic age", said Fr John Dardis, Irish Jesuit provincial in a sermon at an interfaith and ecumenical Evensong service in St Patrick's Cathedral.
"I am convinced that Europe today needs broader values and a wider vision than the purely secular and economic ones. Otherwise people will not give allegiance, will not be motivated to make sacrifice . . . Perhaps that is the message of failed referenda in France and Denmark about the European constitution. People are unsure of what Europe now stands for," he said.
"To be fair to Monnet and Schuman, not to mention the gospel, we need to articulate a clearer vision for a new Europe, to dream new dreams, and to bring people with us in making those dreams a reality," he continued.
"Let us envision and let us build a Europe of positive freedoms for people based not just on economic but also on their religious, social and human rights, based on genuine listening to each other, with an openness to be converted to each other's point of view and free of ideology and prejudice."
Readings were by the German ambassador Christian Pauls and the European commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy. At the beginning of the service Mr McCreevy presented an EU flag to the dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, the Very Rev Robert MacCarthy.
Among the congregation was Papal Nuncio Archbishop Dr Giuseppe Lazzarotto, representatives of the Jewish community, the judiciary and the diplomatic corps. Prayers were led by Monsignor Paul Tighe, director of public affairs for Dublin's Catholic archdiocese.
Meanwhile, prayers were included at Catholic Masses all over the country at the weekend to mark the signing of the treaty.Included in the Prayers of the Faithful, they asked "that the nations of the union will continue to work to bring the blessings of peace and prosperity to all the peoples of the world".
They remembered "the historical contribution of the great Irish missionaries to Europe and we pray that the wisdom of the Gospels will continue to touch the hearts and direct the actions of the peoples of the new Europe", and that "we will cherish the dignity of all people as children of God irrespective of nationality, creed, class or race".
They also prayed that "the politicians and officials whose decisions will determine its future . . . may they always be mindful of the needs of those who are weak and marginalised".
Merkel requests solidarity on EU treaty reform: page 11; Head-to-head debate: page 14; See also State of the Union supplement