5 March 1990
Eastern Europe

I need hardly tell you what a joy it is for me to visit your country and the countries of your neighbors, which for so long lay behind what we called the Iron Curtain. There were chinks in that curtain, so that from time to time we could penetrate and come to see you. Always, however, we came with the consciousness that a great weight lay upon the souls of your people. The human spirit is indomitable and even in those dark years there were always rays of light shining in the darkness. They were the men and women in whose souls dwelt the Spirit of God. If the faith is alive in your country today after decades of systematic attempts at eliminating it, it is because the Spirit of God is stronger than the powers of darkness. If the Community of St. Vincent lives on in your country, it is because that same spirit, which inspired St. Vincent to establish it, has been at work among you, enlightening you, guiding you, strengthening you.

When we pray to the Holy Spirit, we speak of Him as renewing the face of the earth. We think of Him as moving across the world and drawing order out of chaos, harmony out of discord. If we have been astounded at the rapid changes that have taken place in these last few months here in Eastern Europe, it is because the Spirit of God has moved across these countries and with His quiet strength has melted down that Iron Curtain and caused the wall in Berlin to fall, as did the walls of Jericho.

The Spirit of God has not ceased His activities. He continues to speak to us through a succession of events. I imagine that St. Vincent, if he were with us today, might point out two appeals which the Spirit of God may be making to us at the present time.

First, I think the Spirit of God is inviting all of us to renew our confidence in the Providence of God. St. Vincent had a profound devotion to the Providence of God. He believed that God in His kindness was leading us all the time. As St. Vincent saw things, it was important that we should allow God to lead us and not rush ahead of Him. It is God Who leads us, not we Him. "The works of God have their moments," wrote St. Vincent, "His Providence brings them about at one particular point in time, neither sooner nor later." (Coste V, Fr. ed., p. 396).

It is the Providence of God that has led you through the dark tunnel of fear, of suspicion and apprehension into the new light of day that is presently dawning. It is the Providence of God that has preserved you until now. It is the Providence of God that has given you new freedom. The Providence of God may have led you through a dark valley, but now you have been brought into a place of fresh and open pastures.

Second, St. Vincent might remind you of the importance of unity among yourselves, as you enter now upon a new chapter of your history. St. Vincent spoke much about serving the poor and about evangelizing the poor. I would say that he was equally concerned that the members of his Communities would be united with each other. He was convinced that, if his Communities were to do good work in the Church, it was essential that they be united closely in love with one another. His message to you today might very well be to deepen the unity among yourselves. It will be your concern for unity that will help you to be obedient to the Church and to the authorities in our Community. It will be your concern for unity that will enable you to do much work for others. Where unity is, there Christ will be and "if God is for us, who is against us?" (Rom 8:31). "And where do you think God dwells on earth?" said St. Vincent. "In hearts filled with charity and in Companies that are always united." (Conf. Eng. ed., 1 Jan 1644, p. 139).