30/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the EC (COMECE) notes in a press release that on 28 June Pope Jean-Paul II published Apostolic Exhortation: "Ecclesia in Europa" addressed to bishops, priests and lay people, based on the October 1999 Special Assembly of the Synods of Bishops for Europe. The document looks at the Catholic Church in Europe at the beginning of the 21st century, asserting that Europe is not only a geographical region, but also a historic and cultural idea to which Christianity gave “form”, forcing the penetration of various basic values. The Exhortation argues that one of Europe's basic characteristics, also expressed by enlargement and openness, is successful reconciliation and peaceful integration of Europe, achieved on a large scale in the European Union, encourages Europe to pay more attention to its responsibilities in the world and get involved to promote peace, freedom and justice for the poorest people through solidarity.