Joseph Weiler. PHOTO: Manuel Castells

"In Europe there is a pluralism that allows that there are countries like France where the State is defined as secular and others, like Great Britain where the Queen is head of the Church and the State. Therefore, one of the great virtues of Europe is its pluralistic outlook. Thus, I defend not only Italy's right to have a crucifix in a public place but also France's right not to have one."

This was stated today at the University of Navarra by Joseph Weiler, Full Professor of International Law, on the occasion of his investiture as honorary doctor of the academic center, which will take place tomorrow, the 27th. Also receiving this distinction will be the painter Antonio López -who will not attend the ceremony for health reasons- and Cardinal Péter Erdö.

In this sense, the professor of the University of New York explained that precisely what Europe needs"is a healthy respect for the constitution". "I try not to criticize the position of Angela Merkel or the German Constitutional Court, because they seem to take democracy and respect for the constitution quite seriously." He also assured that a good leader must have "his head in the sky and his feet on the ground" and "the same qualities in good times and in bad times."

Religious freedom and honoris causa

On the other hand, Weiler pointed out that despite being against moral relativism, "people who have faith and a way of understanding the truth, we must defend it, and at the same time, respect others". In fact, religious pluralism is not just a political or constitutional concept, it is "a profoundly religious proposition.""Only by being able to say no to God does our yes to God make sense. To be forced to say 'yes' would turn our affirmation into a meaningless 'yes'."

Finally, he stressed that receiving the doctorate honoris causa from the University of Navarra has great significance for him. "My father was a rabbi and I know he would be happy to receive this recognition from a university with a religious identity." At the same time, he said he felt very proud to have obtained the doctorate honoris causa from a university that is a corporate work of Opus Dei.

Joseph Weiler is considered one of the greatest experts in European Union law. Son of the well-known Jewish rabbi Moses Weiler, he was born in Johannesburg, in 1951. graduate by the University of Cambridge, he obtained his doctorate at the European University of Florence high school . Full Professor of International Law at the Schools of Law of the Universities of Michigan (1985-1992) and Harvard (1992-2001), in 2001 he joined the University of New York as university professor. Awarded several honorary doctorates, he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the author of outstanding works, some of which have been translated into Spanish, such as Europa fin de siglo and Una Europa cristiana.