Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has lamented that the original target for a European community built on the Christian values of solidarity, reciprocal forgiveness and reconciliation is disappearing.

"Today's Europe, although strong from an economic and political perspective, is going through a crisis of values," Mgr Grech said.

Addressing a congregation in Nadur recently, Mgr Grech referred to Pope John Paul II's words that "Europe was committing an apostasy not just towards God, but also towards itself", and it had to rediscover its Christian roots.

"Europe pretends to be a community of values, but at the same time it is denying universal and absolute values such as God's presence, protection of life from conception, a family built on an indissoluble marriage, and social justice," he said.

Describing St Paul as Europe's first missionary, Mgr Grech said the Year Of St Paul provided the opportunity to reflect on the saint's writings and the urgency to rediscover one's Christian values, which for centuries have formed our spirituality.

"One expects the representatives of our people, both locally and within Europe, to ensure that these values are respected in the light of political and administrative decisions," he said.