Europe lacks leaders, says pope

(ANSA) - Vatican City, December 7 - Pope Francis has said that Europe lacks leaders in an interview with Catholic weekly Tertio published by the Vatican press office on Wednesday. "That 'never again war' was something that Europe said sincerely," the pope said. "Schumann, De Gasperi, Adenauer... said it sincerely. But after... today there is a lack of leaders. Europe needs leaders, leaders who go forward". Asked what he would say to Europe on the postwar vow 'never again', Francis replied: "I spoke to the European continent three times, twice in Strasbourg and once last year, or this year, I don't recall, when there was the Charlemagne Prize (May 6, 2016) "I believe that that 'never again war' has not been taken seriously, because after the First (World War) there was the Second, and after the Second, there is this third that we are living through, in bits and pieces.
    "We are at war. The world is waging the third world war: Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa, Yemen...it is very serious.
    "So, we say 'never again war' but meanwhile we are making weapons and selling them; and we are selling them to the same people who are fighting; because the same arms manufacturer sells them to this or that, who are at war with each other. It's true. "There's an economic theory that I have not tried to prove, but I've read it in several different books: that in the history of humanity, when a State saw that its finances weren't good, it made war and brought its finances back under control.
    "That is to say, it's one of the easiest ways to produce wealth.
    "Certainly, the price is very high: blood. That 'never again war', I think it was something that Europe said sincerely, Schumann, De Gasperi, Adenauer... they said it sincerely. "But afterwards...".
    A this point the pope stated that today Europe needs leaders that can move the continent forward.
    Francis has issued several calls in the past for Europe to show greater cohesion and solidarity on several fronts, starting with the migrant and refugee emergency.
    He has also called for more policies to help the weakest and most needy components of European society.