Magister cites some signs of renewed interest in Christianity in Europe.

He reprints a review of a new book – the review is in the Italian bishops’ newspaper, and the book is by Nicolas Sarkozy, regarded as a leading contender to replace Chirac as French president:

It truly seems to be a noteworthy event. French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy, an aspirant to the Champs-Elysees, offers readers a book-length interview that has now been published in Italy as well, under the title “La Repubblica, le Religioni, la Speranza [The Republic, the Religions, and Hope].” It is the most thorough and hard-hitting revision of French “laïcité” that has been dared until now.

The reflection he proposes is of significant historical and theoretical depth, even to the point of considering important legal changes that bring into question a taboo of the French republic, the law of 1905 on separation between Church and state.

Sarkozy’s remarks immediately take on the ring of sincerity when he recalls that in France “there exists a longstanding distrust inherited from the period of the great secularist struggles,” and when he invites his readers to give critical consideration to “the preceding generations” that had “scorned, despised, and ridiculed priests and friars.”

The author adds that the reversal of the Church’s image in France is due to the great charisma of John Paul II.