Pope to address European Parliament

(ANSA) - Vatican City, November 21 - 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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