Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale866

tive, than the cynicism which would deny the grandeur of our quest for truth,

and the relativism that corrodes the very values which inspire the building of

a united and fraternal world? Instead, we must reappropriate a confidence in

the nobility and breadth of the human spirit in its capacity to grasp the

truth, and let that confidence guide us in the patient work of politics and

diplomacy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, with these sentiments I offer prayerful good

wishes that your service be inspired and sustained by the light of that truth

which is a reflection of the eternal Wisdom of God the Creator. Upon you and

your families I cordially invoke an abundance of divine blessings.

V

Pragae ad conventum oecumenicum in sede archidioecesis habitum.*

Dear Cardinals,

Your Excellencies,

I am grateful to Almighty God for the opportunity to meet with you who

are here representing the various Christian communities of this land. I thank

Doctor C̆erný, President of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Czech

Republic, for the kind words of welcome which he has addressed to me on

your behalf.

My dear friends, Europe continues to undergo many changes. It is hard to

believe that only two decades have passed since the collapse of former re-

gimes gave way to a difficult but productive transition towards more parti-

cipatory political structures. During this period, Christians joined together

with others of good will in helping to rebuild a just political order, and they

continue to engage in dialogue today in order to pave new ways towards

mutual understanding, cooperation for peace and the advancement of the

common good.

Nevertheless, attempts to marginalize the influence of Christianity upon

public life - sometimes under the pretext that its teachings are detrimental

to the well-being of society - are emerging in new forms. This phenomenon

gives us pause to reflect. As I suggested in my Encyclical on Christian hope,

* Die 27 Septembris 2009.