Pope
in Strasbourg: The EU, an outsiders perspective
(Vatican Radio) When Pope Francis addresses the European
Parliament in Strasbourg Tuesday, he will be able to offer European people and
politicians a refreshing and kind of ‘outsider perspective’ on the Union says
Bernd Nilles, the Secretary
General of CIDSE, an international
alliance of Catholic development agencies working for global justice.
Nilles has been
invited to join the Papal delegation on the one day trip to the heart of
Europe, given his background in working with European institutions. Ahead
of the trip he spoke to Linda Bordoni about what he sees as the chief issues
that Europe needs to address.
Nilles says : “The European Parliament- on a European level – is
the main voice of the European citizens, and often people think that Brussels
and the EU are so far away from people reality, so its’ very important that the
Holy Father brings the voice of the people – of Catholics in this case – to the
political level”.
“It’s very interesting
in this case the Holy Father is coming from a non-European background so he can
give the European people and politicians a refreshing and kind of ‘outsider
perspective’”.
Europeans – he notes -
often claim that they are at the forefront of ‘green’ and sustainable
lifestyles, in reduction of CO2 emissions, ‘that’s only part of the story’ adds
Nilles: “When you are living in other continents you see the deep impacts of
our European way of life of our over consumption of materials. In the
Church more and more people are concerned about that”.
“It can’t continue
that products are produced in Europe based on materials that come from conflict
regions, that actually create wars and conflicts particularly minerals and
natural resources” Nilles concludes. “More and more Church leaders make the
link between the way of living in the North and its impact on the South and we
hope that the holy father will address this link”.
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