“I am deeply sorry for the result as well as for the way the Referendum has taken place”. Words of deep dismay for the victory of the “leave” party have been uttered this morning by the archbishop of the Church of England, Christopher Hill, as – he says – a British Anglican bishop and as the president of the Conference of European Churches (Cec). “There’s no doubt – he states – that there are real issues to be discussed, and not only in the United Kingdom, but in many EU member states. But many accusations, especially those about the migration crisis, that have been decisive for the Referendum have no relation with reality, and the tone – at least in the United Kingdom – has often been more hysterical than rational, especially within the populist parties and part of the press”. Archbishop Hill guarantees that the Churches of the United Kingdom will keep being “strong supporters” of the European Union and will help promote a “rational debate” on the current problems, prompted by the “dialogue that exists within our Churches all over Europe”. The Conference of the European Churches – a Brussels-based organisation that gathers all the Churches of Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant tradition of the Continent – will keep being that “area” of Europe that so many people are now challenging. “We believe – Hill ensures – in creating facilities for peace, justice and stability all over our continent and that such facilities support everyone’s welfare as much as ours”. “Most importantly – he adds –, I hope the Churches, including our partners in the Catholic Church –, can revive a much wider vision for Europe than a merely economic one, a vision imbued with a Christian view of society that pursues everyone’s common good, supports human rights, promotes the development of inclusive communities without slipping into purely individualist claims, and understands (from within the faith) the need for dialogue between faiths and between all the people of good will. Now that the election campaign is over, I think this discussion is urgent for the future of Europe, as much as for the future of the United Kingdom”.