Poland in the EU

St. John Paul II was a highly active advocate of European integration. Its post-war division was considered extremely harmful to the entire continent. Our Great Pope has repeatedly stressed that Europe should breathe with both its lungs - eastern and western. At the same time, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, he indicated that "there will be no unity of the continent until it is a community of the spirit."

How much of the papal teaching of Saint John Paul II has today's Europe absorbed? To what extent can European Union leaders and its citizens benefit from St. John Paul II legacy and doctrine in the future?

Answers to those and many other relevant questions during the webinar were provided by our distinguished guests:

• Fr. Michał Paluch - Rector of the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome
• Fr. Manuel Enrique Barrios Prieto - Secretary General, The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE)
• Ms. Maria Hildingsson, former Secretary General of the European Federation of Catholic Family Associations (FAFCE)
• Mr. George Weigel - Senior Fellow and W.E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies, Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

On behalf of the John Paul II Foundation, Mrs. Elżbieta Drucka-Lubecka de Séjournet addressed the audience.

H.E. Archbishop Wacław Depo, Metropolitan of Częstochowa, accompanied by Ambassador Andrzej Sadoś made a special appearance and address the participants from Jasna Góra.