Pope Francis Says EU Needs Unity To Be Saved From Dying
Pope Francis warned during a European Union (EU) summit that the bloc faces a "vacuum of values" and "risks dying" without a new vision. On Friday. March 24, 27 heads of states came together in Rome to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the economic organization's foundation.
"When a body loses its sense of direction and is no longer able to look ahead, it experiences a regression and, in the long run, risks dying," Pope Francis said. "What hope do they offer for the Europe of today and of tomorrow?" The pontiff thinks there is hope but added the bloc should be reformed first.
In 1957, six countries — Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, West Germany and the Netherlands — signed the Treaty of Rome to form the European Economic Community until it transformed to the EU in 1991 and grew to 27 member countries. The union is credited for much of Europe's peace and prosperity.
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Recently, however, the region is faced by problems consisting of the migrant crisis, lack of direction following U.S. President Donald Trump's reluctance to provide moral suasion and Britain's exit from the group. British Prime Minister Theresa May was not present at the meeting.
For the past five years, Pope Francis has been critical of the EU's lack of vision and even drew German Chancellor Angela Merkel's reproach in 2014, when he likened the organization to an old woman who was "no longer fertile and vibrant," the Telegraph reported.
To address the crises, Pope Francis admonished the presidents and prime ministers to revisit the origins of the group when its founding fathers signed the treaty after World War II to work for a better future for Europe. Back then, he said, there was solidarity among the leaders which is direly needed today.
On the migrant situation, the Holy Father advised the leaders not to think of the crisis not as a numerical, security and economic problem. He also exhorted the Europeans to remember that the region's multicultural identity was a product of the mass migrations in the 20th century's world wars.
