Tuesday's visit by Pope
Francis to the European Parliament in Strasbourg will be an
opportunity to demonstrate the importance of European unity, a
Vatican official said Friday.
The speech by Pope Francis, the first in 26 years by a
pontiff to the parliament in Strasbourg, will be followed by
meetings with officials including European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Herman Van
Rompuy.
"I believe that we Christians, and we Catholics in
particular, have to be convinced of the goodness and validity of
this (European) project and bring our contribution, which is to
give a heart to Europe, to give a soul to Europe," Vatican
Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told Vatican
television.
Europe is struggling with some enormous challenges,
particularly high unemployment, as well as problems with social
cohesion, said Parolin.
"Europe was born for this, to ensure peace and to ensure
special attention towards the most disadvantaged," said Parolin.
Francis will also meet with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi,
because Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the
Council of the European Union.
The pope will later on Tuesday speak to the Council of
Europe before returning to Rome.
The last official papal visit to the parliament was made in
1988 by Pope John Paul II.
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