The European project is built on the concepts of freedom, rule of law, and social justice. Over the course of almost 70 years, this project has transformed a continent that was shattered by World War II into one of peace, stability, and economic prosperity. Too often, however, the success of a shared economy has been seen as the key to European integration. On the contrary, economic progress has proven insufficient in the fostering of political unity and social cohesion across an increasingly heterogeneous continent. Indeed, using economic growth as a barometer of European success is misleading. Economic factors on their own fail to account for the values, customs, and understandings of identity within each participating country. It also fails to reveal how tightly these considerations are bound to a sense of belonging within local and national communities. Among many factors, national identity and religion play a key role in shaping people's sense of belonging and loyalty toward their community. Indeed, the interplay between national identity and religion may represent one of the greatest challenges to the European project.

Instrumental faith

The challenge arises from efforts to construct exclusive identities for political mobilization. A wide network of political actors, agents, and parties use religious symbols to advance a specific political and anti-European agenda. Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's Northern League and former minister of the interior, is a case in point. His speeches often reference the cross and the rosary in an attempt to reassert the country's Catholic identity and legitimize his extreme approach to the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean.

Both Christian faith and Greek-Roman traditions have played important roles in the shaping of Europe's historical trajectory. Nevertheless, the separation of church and state remain key to the past, present, and future of European democracies. In criticizing Salvini's use of religious symbols, Antonio Spadaro, a priest who is also a close advisor to Pope Francis, made it clear that, “the cross is a sign of protest against sin, violence, injustice and death. It is NEVER a sign of identity” (Giuffrida 2018). In this statement, Spadaro warned against the peril that the use of religion for political purposes poses to modern societies.