Historically obvious, it is necessary to state this only because the powers that be are so busy denying that Christianity has anything to do with European accomplishments. Christianity's teachings about the sanctity of life and dignity of every human being gave rise to political ideals of natural law, (inalienable rights), political freedom, political equality and the Magna Carta principle that the King (or government) is not above the law.

Christian proselytizing led to Spanish, British and French exploration and conquest of the New World, a Christian hemisphere whose international relations over the past century have been peculiarly characterized by the absence of war. (Cf. Bolshevik revolution, WW1, Stalin terror, WW2, Cold War, Red Chinese terror, Pol Pot, Palestine/Israel, Islamic Jihad)

Allow me therefore respectfully to invite you, the elected Representatives of this Nation [...] to maintain a convinced and pondered trust in the heritage of virtues and values handed down by your forebears (emphasis in original)

That is, remember that you are a Nation (a large aggregate of people closely associated with each other by factors such as common descent, language, culture (religion?) esp. when organized as a political State) (OED). Throughout the Pope's address, the word "Nation" is capitalized. The Pope is encouraging the Nations of Europe not lose faith in the Christian cultural heritage handed down by their forbears. Here, the Pope assumes that his audience, the elected representatives of Italy and the custodians of these inestimable "virtues and values", are born citizens of Christian national ancestry.

To offer the world the fundamental message [...] there must be respect for man, for his dignity and for his inalienable rights

The concept of "inalienable rights" is the lynchpin of the Declaration of Independence, which appeals to God on four separate occasions. Thus, the Pope's message coincides with that of the Founding Fathers of the United States. But today, federal courts are busy censoring the word "God" out of any public utterance. The Pope's single reference to "inalienable rights" is one more than can be found in a search of Supreme Court decisions for the past 13 years.

Following with affectionate attention the development of this great Nation, I am led to believe that in order for its characteristic qualities to be more clearly expressed, it needs to increase its solidarity and internal cohesion.

Here the Pope begins to touch upon the heart of his message, that Christian Nations must not allow their identity (characteristic qualities) to be dissipated and dissolved by multiculturalism. While the Pope condemns a "forced uniformity", he notes that internal "differences" may become "sources of confrontation and obstacles to overall progress". Although the Pope does not oppose immigration, it is fair to say he does specifically denounce the effects of non-Christian immigration, e.g., the loss of national identity, cohesion and consensus about fundamental ethical values.

The only proper objective of government, he notes, is the "common good of the Nation" as illuminated by "fundamental ethical values". The loss of national identity transmutes the vision of the "common good of the Nation" into a mirage. Loss of national identity and consensus leads to an "ethical relativism" that makes "the acknowledgement of truth impossible". If there is no moral or ethical truth, politics does not concern itself with "the common good of the Nation". Instead, political life becomes "manipulated for reasons of power" (by whom?) and democracy "as history demonstrates" becomes a "thinly disguised totalitarianism." (Hitler and Mussolini were democratically elected)

I cannot fail to mention, on such a solemn occasion, another grave threat that bears upon the future of this Country [...] I refer to the crisis of the birthrate, the demographic decline and the aging of the population.

Again, this is at the heart of his message. Human life is an ultimate value for its own sake. But here the Pope condemns the panoply of evils that undermine the birthrate - abortion, homosexuality, feminism - because these evils are destroying the Nation, the repository of Christian culture.

The Church, the Pope says, has contributed to the Nation by its "pastoral action in favor of families and openness to life." He then notes there is "ample room for political initiatives ...upholding family...marriage... having children." This is a nice way of saying that government support for abortion, homosexuality, feminism and divorce, are helping to destroy marriage, families, and consequently the bearing and rearing of children.

The Pope also refers to a "moral climate .... massively conditioned by the communications media." Thus he does not ignore the key role played by the media in undermining ethical foundations and therefore Christian National identity, continuity and purpose. He recommits the Church to "the educational mission which is part of her very nature", e.g., Christian schools.

The Pope also asks the parliament to make childbearing "less burdensome both socially and economically." Later in his address, the Pope warns against the "continuing grave crisis of unemployment affecting the young in particular." It appears that the Pope wants government to implement economic policies that facilitate childbearing and childrearing. Presumably this would include paying a father sufficient salary or wages that would allow a mother to do both. He warns that government policies hostile to employment opportunities, like free trade, exact a demographic cost.

A self-confident and internally cohesive Italy can be a great enrichment for the other nations of Europe and the world [...] It is my hope [...] the new foundations of the European "common house" will not lack the cement of that extraordinary religious, cultural and civil patrimony which has given Europe its greatness down the centuries. There is a need to guard against a vision of the Continent which would only take into account its economic and political aspects

Here the Pope speaks out against the European Union's attempt to dilute Europe's Christian identity by expanding to include nonChristian nations. He opposes a "vision of the Continent" with only political and economic aspects (the New World Order) and no religious aspect. He again reminds us that Europe's centuries of greatness were a product of Christianized culture.

His choice of the word "patrimony" is advised; it is a word seldom written or heard anymore, and is defined as "property or an estate inherited from one's father or ancestor's; a heritage or inheritance" (OED). The Pope reminds us that born citizens of the Christian Nations are the inheritors at birth of a Christian national heritage. He advises us not to squander it.

Conclusion:

John Paul II, in eloquent and moderate tones, reminds us that Christianity inspired Europe's immense contributions to world civilization. He emphasizes how disrespect for human life and the human family, e.g., abortion, homosexuality and feminism, threatens the ethical and demographic foundations of Christian National identity. He suggests that governments should foster economic policies favoring employment and childbearing. He warns us that a decline in Christian National identity and cohesion threatens the ethical foundations of that Nation and therefore the just purposes of its government. He condemns the prevalent moral climate as "massively conditioned by the communications media." He observes that a nonChristian ethical relativism moves us away from a respect for every man's inalienable rights and towards the nightmare of totalitarian government. He warns us of an internationalist vision of a nonChristian Europe based on ethical relativism and totalitarianism.

Many would object that this message is "inappropriate" for the United States. Their objections are premised upon misconceptions, at best, or lies and propaganda, at worst, concerning the history of religion and immigration in the United States, a topic that shall be addressed in a future essay.