The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will go to Strasbourg to address the European Parliament on November 25.Francis will be the second pope to visit Strasbourg after John Paul II, who addressed the Parliament on October 11, 1988. At that time, just a year before the fall of the Berlin Wall, John Paul underscored the Christian roots that undergird European culture and society and made an impassioned appeal for freedom of conscience and religious liberty.
This will be Pope Francis’ fifth international trip, after Brazil in the summer of 2013, the Holy Land last spring, South Korea in August and Albania this coming September 21.
The visit, which had already been announced by the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, was confirmed yesterday by the director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi. Program details have yet to be determined, said Fr Lombardi, who further clarified that the trip will not constitute an official visit to France, but rather to the European Parliament, though the spokesman did not rule out other possible invitations within France.
President Schulz had extended the invitation to Pope Francis on the occasion of his official visit to the Vatican on October 11, 2013. After his meeting with the Pope, he had explained his reasons for inviting the Pope:
Today we live in a globalized world in which the European Union ought to play a role of promoting greater justice and greater cooperation. It should be instrumental in the creation of a more just and equitable world. And the place where all of this is discussed is the European Parliament. The Holy See and the Pope have an enormous impact on the world debate regarding the changes we need. A man with this much influence and importance should take the floor in the midst of the forum where Europe’s role in the world is discussed. This is the reason I have sought to convince Pope Francis to address the European Parliament.
Yesterday Schulz sent the news out by Twitter as well: "I am honored to be able to welcome Pope Francis to the European Parliament for an official visit on Novermber 25," he wrote.
By that time, however, Jean-Claude Juncker, a former prime minister of Luxembourg, will have assumed the presidency of the European Union’s executive branch, if he is confirmed by the Parliament. On Wednesday, Juncker named his team for the upcoming term.
Mr. Juncker’s nominees are subject to approval by the Parliament, which is expected to hold hearings on each appointee, though they can only accept or reject the entire team, rather than pick and choose from among his nominations.
In late August the Italian foreign minister, Federica Mogherini was tapped as the European Union’s foreign policy chief despite concerns that she was too inexperienced. Her selection was aided by a strong push from Italy’s Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi; Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union. Reported by Breitbart 2 hours ago.