A Russian-Italian conference on intellectual and spiritual traditions in public life in the two countries was held on May 25-26, 2011, in the Russian Academy of Sciences. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, sent the following message to the conference:

I greet the participants and guests of the Russian-Italian Conference on Intellectual and Spiritual Traditions in Public Life in Russia and Italy.

Scholars, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, public leaders, statesmen and students have gathered today in the Russian Academy of Science to discuss a wide range of issues concerning relations between our two Churches, countries and peoples.

The theme of the Conference has a direct bearing on the identity of the European civilization. The problem of national self-awareness, self-identification, has become especially relevant in the situation of growing interpenetration of cultures in today’s world. The globalization is a multi-level process affecting both the world as a whole and individual countries and regions as well as individuals. This process has become a major characteristic of the contemporary stage in the world history. On the one hand, the phenomenon of globalization is manifested in new forms of international cooperation for dealing with urgent problems facing humanity and also in the intensive development of technologies which considerably facilitate communication and the common efforts of people in various parts of the globe. On the other hand, the globalization is fraught with a threat to depersonalize distinct cultures and to undermine the inner vitality of nations which ensures their development. It also challenges the values and traditions which have formed the European civilization.

Russia and Italy are united by sharing the age-old Christian heritage that has made an enormous influence on every sphere of the cultural life of our nations. There are numerous works of fine arts, literature and music which were inspired by Christian ideals.

The formation of the harmonious personality should invariably combine the adoption of moral axioms, the ability to perceive the upper world and to develop the esthetical feeling, and the aspiration for intellectual growth. An important role in this formation belongs to the family, the Church and the academic and cultural community.

I wish the participants in the Conference fruitful work and hope that its results will contribute to the development of relations between our countries and peoples.

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate