“Denying Europe means denying ourselves and our Christian roots. But it is precisely for this that the European Union cannot be reduced to targets, budgets and ad-hoc decisions”. The president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), Card. Gualtiero Bassetti, said this in an interview with the Italian newspaper Avvenire. According to him, Italy should not be on a collision course with Europe. “I read some notable statements from Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Well, the relationship between our country and Europe has always been intense – he added -. An ancient and fruitful bond, first of all religious and cultural, and more recently political”. According to the cardinal, the European Union “should be close to its people, promote sharing and social fraternity, and support those in difficulty”. “I said it a few days ago: I dream of a Europe as a family of families, as a place of solidarity and charity, as a peaceful community of peoples that can overcome selfishness and national resentment – in other words, a united, peaceful and solidarity-based Europe”.