Pope John Paul II declared St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, along with St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Catherine of Siena, as co-patronesses of Europe on October 1, 1999. The pope gave his rationale in a motu proprio Spes aedificandi:

Accordingly, during the celebration of the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, on the eve of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, it has seemed to me that the Christians of Europe, as they join their fellow-citizens in celebrating this turning-point in time, so rich in hope and yet not without its concerns, could draw spiritual benefit from contemplating and invoking certain Saints who are in some way particularly representative of their history. Therefore, after appropriate consulation, and completing what I did on 31 December 1980 when I declared Co-Patrons of Europe, along with Saint Benedict, two Saints of the first millennium, the brothers Cyril and Methodius, pioneers of the evangelization of the East, I have decided to add to this group of heavenly patrons three figures equally emblematic of critical moments in the second millennium now drawing to its close: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross. Three great Saints, three women who at different times—two in the very heart of the Middle Ages and one in our own century—were outstanding for their fruitful love of Christ's Church and their witness to his Cross.

We link to the full text of the motu proprio. Numbers 8 and 9 are specifically about Edith Stein-- St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. We hope you enjoy these inspiring words on St. Teresa Benedicta day.

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