During his address visit to the School of Theology of the University of Navarra, the Bishop of Stockholm (Sweden) reclaimed for Catholics the pride of belonging to the Church. Bishop Anders Arborelius declared that "sometimes Catholics are too timid and lack the courage and pride to give witness. The laity should be encouraged to give this witness in their environment every day. For the dignity of human life and the value of every human being as the image of God is a necessary contribution in the world of consumerism."

The prelate pointed out that "the Catholic Church in Sweden represents 2% of the population, about 150,000 inhabitants, mostly immigrants. The Church is still growing, although we need vocations and new churches or parishes, despite secularization.

In his opinion, "Catholicism will be revitalized in Europe through the spiritual life. We must help all the baptized to discover that they live in continuous union with Jesus Christ and that their daily life is an act of service and adoration". Referring to young people, he indicated that, "in general, they have a heart open to God and to religion, but each one needs a financial aid staff to live according to the Gospel".

Christian Europe and neutral state

Bishop Anders Arborelius stressed that "to understand today's Europe it is necessary to know and recognize its Christian history. Today the testimonies of Christian life are more necessary than ever".

Faced with what he considers today's individualistic protagonism, he assured that "every human being seeks communion, relationship, that is why I believe that there will be a return to family values. Parents have to rediscover their responsibility as witnesses and transmitters of the faith. The State as such must be neutral, not an enemy, to give parents and communities their role as apostles of the faith".

Finally, the Bishop of Stockholm highlighted John Paul II 's persistent interest in defending "the unique value of every human being from conception to natural death and the unity of all people of good will, of all religions, in favor of peace and justice."