Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church: The Great Union of the Romanians in 1918 was made possible through many sacrifices, through political will and national consensus

The Great Union of the Romanians in 1918 was made possible through many sacrifices, through political will and national consensus. During the one hundred years following the Great Union (1918-2018), Romania experienced dignity, joy and sadness.

Dignity, through the accomplishment of the unitary Romanian state. Joy, for the assertion of the Romanians as a dynamic and creative nation. Sadness, for having lost a number of national territories as compared to the ones it had in 1918 and for the restriction of the freedom and liberties during the communist dictatorship.

The current state is marked by both uncertainty and hope: uncertainty generated by social insecurity, involving living standards and the demographic issues; hope to build a better future by uniting freedom, on the one hand, with responsibility and solidarity on the other, all grounded on the faith in God and the love for our fellows. Many and blessed years, Romania!