“The European cause is too serious to be left to just a few people”, said Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose government is assuming  growing responsibility in the economic crisis. Merkel delivered remarks today to religious and political leaders gathered in Munich by Sant’Egidio. Riccardi stressed that “the world needs a strong and united Europe. We know our limitations, we know the limitations of our intellectual and leadership classes”, but Europe must start making history again.   It can’t leave its seat vacant. It must not shrink its teaching chair to a handful of stools for its small countries. A united Europe is decisive for the civilization of living together on an international scale”. It is necessary to cultivate “a passion and a shared ethos for this cause”, “otherwise we will become prisoners of the debates in our countries, shouted and quickly forgotten. That is not history, but commentary. That way we will wear ourselves out”. After ten tough years that sprung from September 11, 2001, “a change is needed! For years we have been convinced of the necessity to raise the problem of peace more forcefully: in international political and social spheres. Peace as the ethos of people”.