The Christian culture
The Christian culture
The role of Christianity
‘Europe as a spiritual unity’ from Die Zeit (18 April 1946)
TextOn 18 April 1946, the German periodical Die Zeit reflects on the roots and principles which should underpin the idea of European unification and criticises the way in which this ideal has been usurped by History’s despots.
‘Europe's spiritual integration' from Die Welt (10 May 1946)
TextOn 10 May 1946, the German daily newspaper Die Welt gives an account of the historical development of Europe and emphasises the role of Christian culture in the unification process.
Radio broadcast of a lecture given by Pierre Dupong on a united Europe (Luxembourg, 11 April 1948)
TextIn a broadcast on Radio Luxembourg on 11 April 1948, Pierre Dupong, Luxembourg Minister of State and Prime Minister, discusses the importance of Christian culture in the European unification process.
'No cooperation with Communism' from the Luxemburger Wort (5 June 1948)
TextOn 5 June 1948, the Catholic daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort gives an account of the position of Pope Pius XII, who appeals to European Catholic workers not to be seduced by the allure of Communism.
Letter from Carlo Sforza to Robert Schuman (24 August 1948)
TextOn 24 August 1948, Carlo Sforza, Italian Foreign Minister, explains his Christian view of European unity to his French counterpart, Robert Schuman.
Address given by Pope Pius XII to participants at the Congress of the Union of European Federalists (Castelgandolfo, 11 November 1948)
TextOn 11 November 1948, Pope Pius XII expresses his support for the Federalist Movement’s actions in support of European unity.
‘The European idea and Christians’ from Die österreichische Furche (21 May 1949)
TextOn 21 May 1945, the Viennese weekly publication Die österreichische Furche criticises the formulaic nature of European activism in some countries and calls on Christians to assume their responsibilities to guarantee the economic and political future of Europe.
'The knight and the gentleman' from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (29 January 1954)
TextOn 29 January 1954, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung goes over the arguments put forward the previous day by Count Coudenhove-Kalergi when speaking to the Frankfurt Society for Trade and Sciences in support of European cultural unity.
'The Catholic concept of Europe' from the Luxemburger Wort (8 January 1955)
TextOn 8 January 1955, the Luxembourg Catholic daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort outlines the European vision of Pope Pius XII and of the Catholic community.
'In their turn, Dr Adenauer, Mr Bech and Mr Robert Schuman confirm the need for a united Europe' from Le Monde (27 September 1956)
TextOn 27 September 1956, the French daily newspaper Le Monde reviews the speeches made by Robert Schuman, Joseph Bech and Konrad Adenauer at the Grandes Conférences Catholiques (Major Catholic Debates), held in Brussels the previous day.
The pan-European idea
Draft Paneuropean Pact (25 February 1930)
TextOn 25 February 1930, in Berlin, Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi publishes a draft Paneuropean Pact in support of a European federation.
Information brochure published by Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi on the Paneuropean Movement (1931)
TextIn 1931, Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, founder and President of the Paneuropean Movement, pulishes in Vienna a brochure on the implications of the establishment of a Pan-Europe.
Paneuropean Congress (Vienna, 1934)
ImageIn May 1934, Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, the founder and President of the Paneuropean Union, opens the inaugural session of the Paneuropean Congress in Vienna in the presence of the Austrian Chancellor, Engelbert Dollfuß.
Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi
ImageCount Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, the founder of and the driving force behind the Paneuropean Movement.
Interview with Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi: the founding of the Paneuropean Movement (Vienna, 19 November 1971)
Audio extractIn this interview recorded in 1971, Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, founder of the Paneuropean Union, considers the foundation of the movement in 1923 and refers specifically to the aims of its establishment, namely a common European policy as regards foreign affairs, defence and the economy. Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi also emphasises the influence of his father in the birth of the idea of a Paneuropean Movement.
Interview with Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi: his early years (Vienna, 19 November 1971)
Audio extractIn this interview recorded in 1971, Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, founder of the Paneuropean Union, considers his family history, his birth in Japan, his childhood in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and his secondary and university education in Vienna.