Will Pope Francis’ words foster a new pact for Europe?

Last updated on: November 25, 2014 at 12:09 am by CNA Daily News

Will Pope Francis’ words foster a new pact for Europe? 2014-11-25T00:09:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Brussels, Belgium, Nov 24, 2014 / 05:09 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With elections for European Parliament having taken place in May, an auxiliary bishop of Brussels hopes that Pope Francis' Nov. 25 visit to the body will impact the new members of parliament.

Pope Francis will travel to Strasbourg on Tuesday, there addressing the local seat of European Parliament and the Council of Europe.

The European Parliament includes members of parliament from the 28 states of the European Union, while the Council of Europe is the organization for the defence of human rights in Europe, and has 47 members.

Bishop Jean Kockerols, Auxiliary Bishop of Malines-Brussels, recounted to CNA on Nov. 21 the commitment of the Church in Brussels to evangelize the European Parliament.

“The Church of Brussels is very close to European Union, there are exchanges, contacts … we try to welcome these officials, and this is the reason why Mass is celebrated in 23 different languages in Brussels, since the first thing to do is building bridges of trust with these people.”

The bishop underscored that “we should do more,” especially to foster the commitment of these officials in the parishes.

The European Union “has lived a great evolution,” he said, noting its expansion from six to 28 member states.

Bishop Kockerols’ hope lies in “Pope Francis' ability to have an impact” on the European Parliament, since “many of the members of parliament are new, and they should know that they have the right and the power to give things a direction.”

The Church, he said, is “trying to build a strong network of officials and members of parliament, because it is important that they discover the social teaching of the Church.”

He also stressed the importance of having criteria for European policies which are “more oriented to the human person.”

Father Patrick Daly, general secretary of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community, said Pope Francis' visit is significant for highlighting Europe's social, economic, and political family.

He described the commission as a “watchdog on the evolution of European institutions,” and this is why “Pope Francis’ visit is quite important for our work … it shows that the Pope appreciates the European project, and he deems it important for all citizens.”

“This is a papal affirmation of great importance. The Pope acknowledge that the (European) Parliament, gathered in Strasbourg for a plenary assembly, determines in some ways the future profile of our social, economic, and political family.”

Fr. Daly recounted that the bishops of the commission are above all “worried about the situation of young people, who cannot find a job, and, if they do work, they cannot build a family life.”

All of these new families are living in a highly secularized Europe.

“On the other hand, we should not forget that though our world is more secularized than 50 years ago … I think that the search for authentic values is still at the heart of the European project.”

Europe

Previous Post

November 25, 2014

Pope's Philly visit will be 'powerful' witness to marriage, bishop says

Next Post

November 25, 2014 LGBT activist leader faces sex crimes charges involving teen

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm is a prayer of repentance after David's sin with Bathsheba?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 51 Psalm 24 Psalm 23 Psalm 7