Christ is Risen, may there be peace be among all!
In this Easter season, we are sharing a heartfelt appeal inviting all Christians to unite in prayer for the gift of peace.
Download the appeal for Peace >>
This statement has been written by the “Easter Together” group which is part of the Together for Europe network.
We also take this opportunity to wish our Orthodox friends, who celebrate Easter on 12 April, a blessed feast of the Lord’s Resurrection.
Aachen, a city with a deeply European soul, provided the ideal setting. During our visit to the cathedral and the historic centre, the layers of history became tangible: from the legacy of Charlemagne to the scars of the Second World War in the Euregio. In this historical setting, we felt like a “miniature Europe”: a lively diversity from South Limburg, Flanders, Wallonia, the German-speaking community of Belgium and the Rhineland. A special gift was the completely unexpected meeting with Fadi Krikor (Meeting of Leaders) and his wife Nicole right inside the cathedral.
An impetus from Klaus Henning reminded us of the “axis of reconciliation” between France and Germany. The work of Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle, after eighty years of enmity and three devastating wars, laid the foundations for a peaceful Europe. This historic reconciliation remains a central pillar and a mandate for the future.
Despite our different traditions and languages – French, Dutch and German – we were united by our clear focus on Jesus Christ. Our time of communal worship was deeply marked by this central theme. At the same time, we prayed for the suffering of the world, especially the people in the war zones of Iran, Israel and Ukraine. With our blessings and prayers, Jeff and Romkje Fontaine (Schuman Centre) left for Ukraine the very next day.
The warm hospitality at the Henning home created an atmosphere of mutual respect and brotherly love. The participants’ feedback speaks for itself: ‘It was a wonderful and profound experience of hope!’ Another voice summed up the experience as follows: ‘It gave me great inner joy to be together as a family. Let us continue to pray for one another and ask God for the grace that peace may return to the world. It was a day full of stars!’
by Klaus Henning
Photo: Klaus Henning
The goal is to bear witness to the unity among Christians in Europe in order to put it at the service of the development of European policies, moving towards reconciliation and peace. In an international context marked by wars, there is a need to draw on the heritage of Christian values to address the challenges of coexistence among the peoples of the Old Continent.
These values, these principles, are contained in the Christian soul of Europe: ‘Reviving Europe: A Soul for Reconciliation’ is the title of the meeting we will hold at the European Parliament on May 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The program includes the exchange of experiences among young people, dialogue between representatives of political forces on the theme of international order, and exploration conducted by some experts on crucial issues for continental and global balances.
In the preceding days, on the 11th and 12th, guided tours of the European Union’s institutional venues and working sessions between young people and European policy experts are planned.
To adequately prepare for this event, Together for Europe has planned a series of four preliminary meetings, held via video call, attended by all those who will experience the event in Brussels. During these meetings, mutual acquaintance is encouraged, European citizenship is promoted starting from its cultural and institutional characteristics, and the role of Together for Europe in today’s world is examined.
The schedule of these preliminary meetings:
Those who wish to participate in the video calls can register admin@together4europe.org.
Alberto Lo Presti
Photo: K.Brand/Canva
Preparations for the vote generated a unity never before seen in the 35-year history of independent Slovenia. The referendum campaign succeeded in transcending traditional political divisions between left and right, focusing instead on respect, value and the culture of life. For the first time, all Christian denominations (Catholics, Evangelicals, Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox), all major Slovenian movements and communities, as well as Muslims, came together to launch a joint message against the law. The fight was mainly promoted by lay people, with the support of doctors, lawyers, psychologists and a large number of young people.
The initiative began in January 2024 with a visit from Alex Schadenberg, a Canadian pioneer in anti-euthanasia activism, who highlighted the pitfalls of the legislation. The campaign was widespread, with over 100 meetings, conferences and panel discussions across the country, often with three or four significant events per day. Although 85% of the mainstream media was controlled by parties in favour of the law, activists made extensive use of social networks and Catholic radio (which provided daily services against euthanasia) to disseminate recorded testimonies from patients, disabled people, doctors and nurses. In addition, all major religious communities and medical organisations in Slovenia issued joint statements against euthanasia, strengthening the “NO” front.
A crucial element of the campaign was a strong spiritual support. Religious communities, with the support of Slovenian bishops, organised a wide variety of activities: prayers in all parishes, novenas and recitation of the Rosary (even at 5 a.m. on the radio), days of fasting and prayer, including members of the Muslim community. Solidarity in prayer also came from Croatia, Bosnia and other Eastern European countries. Participation exceeded the 20% quorum of those eligible to vote. The success of the referendum cemented Christian unity and demonstrated that the battle for the value of life is a cause that can unite an entire nation. One participant’s impression: ‘The culture of life has won here.’
And is not the YES to life – ‘we are committed to defending its inviolable dignity in all its stages, from conception to natural death’ – the first of the seven YESes, to which our ecumenical network is committed?
Marjana and Pavel Snoj (TfE Slovenia)
Of different denominations, but with a common basis
Together for Europe participated in the 28th European Prayer Breakfast, an annual event held in Brussels, an initiative created to bring together Christians from various Churches and denominations who are involved in various roles (parliamentarians, experts, supporters) related to the institutions of the European Union. It was an opportunity to forge new friendships, consolidate old ones and learn about the rich world of Christians who are working to promote peace and harmony among the peoples of Europe. In line with the aims of Together for Europe, MEP Mavridis of Cyprus, a member of the International Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.), introduced the breakfast session with the following words: ‘Even though we are from different denominations, Jesus is the common base that unites us.’
Jeff Fountain (Netherlands), Alberto Lo Presti (Italy) and Maria Wienken (Germany), participating on behalf of Together for Europe, had some wonderful and fruitful meetings with some special friends: Eduard Heger, former Prime Minister of Slovakia, who encouraged us to continue to support MEPs in their commitment to Christian politics; Miriam Lexmann, who renewed her willingness to collaborate in view of an upcoming meeting in May at the European Parliament; and others who were eager to learn about the experience of Together for Europe.
Beyond the numbers
Prior to this event, an interesting seminar organised by the Secretariat of Art.17, responsible for ‘Dialogue between religions and non-confessional visions’, entitled ‘Beyond the numbers’ took place. The aim was to focus on the European balance sheet in terms of encouraging dialogue and relations between the religious and philosophical conceptions that nourish the European spirit. The parliamentary chamber in which the event took place appeared as a colourful mosaic of religions, philosophical traditions, spiritual inspirations and cultural institutions. Yet there was no air of confusion. Commitment to Europe was the common denominator, confirming that this is the era of networking, of moving forward together, seeking to increase dialogue and encounters between those who care about the destiny of the Old Continent and, with it, the destiny of humanity.
In this regard, the contribution of Together for Europe was recognised as indispensable by Antonella Sberna, Italian MEP and Vice-President of Article 17 EU, who fondly recalled the event on 15 May and offered her support for a future event in May 2026. There were also cordial greetings with the President of COMECE, Monsignor Crociata, and the Secretary, Reverend Barroso, as well as with the two representatives of the KEK. German MEP Monika Hohlmeier expressed interest in learning more about our network, and we agreed to meet in Germany.
In conclusion, we were able to participate in two events held at the European Parliament: one on multilateralism, entitled ‘The role of Europe in UN reform,’ with speakers such as Nicola Zingaretti and Lucia d’Annunziata, and another on ‘The role of faith in building social cohesion,’ promoted by Prof. Mc. Donagh of the Centre for Religions, Human Values and International Relations. At the latter event, the Together for Europe network was also briefly presented, arousing appreciation and interest.
Maria Wienken, Alberto Lo Presti
I am in Ukraine for the third time in a year. I see a country at its limit after almost four years of war. The resilience of the people is incredible, but the tension is palpable everywhere. Nerves are frayed, and this is more than understandable.
Winter without electricity, water, and heating, alarms and continuous bombings at every hour of the day and night: all of this is now an integral part of daily life. It is a life of permanent insecurity, a life at the mercy of threats.
Despite the chaos, there are moments of deep solidarity and reflection that keep the country united. Every morning at nine o’clock, a song of national resistance echoes through the streets of Ukraine. Public life comes to a standstill for a minute. The supermarket cashier stops scanning items, the man at the café sets his coffee cup down on the table, and the librarian at the book counter pauses. This minute is dedicated to the memory and respect of fallen soldiers and all those who are holding the line on the front. It is a moving daily ceremony that draws attention to the victims of the war.
Being close to death profoundly changes one’s perspective on life and faith. A young man who was fighting on the front told me, ‘In the face of death, there are no atheists. Even men who are not believers, in that moment, plead: “Say a prayer for me too, because I don’t know how to pray.”‘ Another soldier recounted an ambush in which his unit fell: ‘We were under heavy enemy fire. Miraculously, the bullet lodged in my bulletproof vest. Many people all over the world are praying for us, and I know for certain that one of those prayers saved my life.’
Beatriz Lauenroth, press officer of Together for Europe