2026/10/02
Martina Linzer

Are values limitless?

Europe is a continent full of lines. Borders run through countries, regions, cultures and sometimes even through families. For centuries, these borders have been borders have been places of separation, mistrust and isolation. But at the same time, they have always been places of encounter. Markets, pilgrimage routes, monasteries, trade routes and churches connected people across linguistic and cultural cultural borders. Today, in the 21st century, we are once again faced with the question: How do we shape coexistence in a world that is globally networked

Christian values can provide a compass here. They are not a historical relic, but a foundation that provides orientation even in secular societies. societies. Values such as charity, justice, compassion, responsibility and solidarity are not exclusive beliefs. exclusive beliefs. They are principles of human interaction. When we talk about intergenerational solidarity in a cross-border context, it is precisely about is about living these values in practice.

Why now? Because our societies are ageing at the same time and are changing culturally. Because loneliness, social division and nationalism are growing. Because generations are in danger of living side by side living together. And because borders - despite open Schengen areas - are becoming are becoming more noticeable again, be it through political conflicts, migration issues or through economic differences.

So the question is not whether Christian values and intergenerational solidarity are relevant, but rather solidarity are relevant, but how we can consciously revive them.

 

The importance of the generational connection

 A society that sees its older members only as a care case or cost factor loses its roots. or a cost factor loses its roots. A society that overburdening or slowing down its younger members loses its future. Intergenerational solidarity means that both sides take responsibility for each other. take responsibility for each other. It thrives on experience being passed on and new things are allowed at the same time.

In Christian tradition, this togetherness has always been central. Family associations, monasteries or parishes were places where old and young came together. came together. Faith provided a framework that was not only spiritual, but also social. also had a social impact. Today, this structure is often more fragile. Families live scattered, religious ties have become weaker. But the need for orientation and a sense of belonging remains.

It is precisely in border regions that we can see how strong this solidarity can have. Anyone who lives in Carinthia, Friuli, Slovenia or Hungary knows that borders do not have to be walls. Many people have neighbors, friends or relatives on the other side. Festivals, markets, clubs and church celebrations often cross the official lines for a long time. Intergenerational solidarity in this environment means that young people are inspired by traditions and older people benefit from new ideas.

 

Christian values in the Today

Cross-border solidarity as an opportunity

Border areas are more than just lines on a map. They are laboratories for coexistence. Those who live here know about the advantages and challenges of diversity. A cross-border project that brings young and old together young and old can achieve far more than just leisure activities. It creates spaces for exchange, remembrance and hope.

An example: Older people talk about their war experiences. tell their war experiences, while younger people document them digitally document them and make them accessible. This results in archives that not only preserve history, but also promote dialog. Another example: Cross-border visiting services, in which young people from Austria visit older visit older people in Hungary and vice versa. Language and playful and playful interaction become a bridge, not an obstacle.

These initiatives show that Christian values do not stop at denominational boundaries. Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, but also people with no religious affiliation share the same longing: to grow old with dignity, to be needed, to stay connected.

Borders are made by people. Solidarity is heartfelt wanted. Those who take Christian values seriously recognize that responsibility does not stop does not end at the garden fence or the state line. It really begins there.

Intergenerational solidarity in a cross-border context is more than just a buzzword. more than just a buzzword. It is the living answer to loneliness, exclusion and division. It shows that human dignity does not depend on age, origin or nationality. age, origin or nationality. And it makes it clear that a society based on values is more crisis-proof, more humane and more sustainable. more sustainable.

In the end, it's not about about developing perfect concepts and projects. It's about getting started. To make a visit. To have a conversation. Building a bridge. Small steps, supported by great values. Because when we share responsibility across borders across borders, we create something that is stronger than any division: Community with a future in a peaceful Europe!