Pope calls on Europeans to uphold
core EU values
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| EU leads attend an event to mark Europe Day in Brussels (AFP) |
Pope Francis encourages European leaders to nurture the
values that led to the establishment of the European Union and face the
consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in a spirit of harmony and cooperation.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis turned his thoughts to Europe “on the occasion
of the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950.”
Speaking to the faithful after the Regina Caeli prayer on
Sunday, the Pope said that Declaration “inspired the process of European
integration, enabling the reconciliation of the peoples of the continent after
the Second World War, and the long period of stability and peace from which we
benefit today.”
Inviting all those who hold positions of responsibility in
the European Union never to fail to be inspired by the historic documents, he
urged them to face the social and economic consequences of the pandemic “in a
spirit of harmony and collaboration.”
The Schuman Declaration
In 1950, European nations were still struggling to overcome
the devastation wrought by World War II, which had ended 5 years earlier.
The Declaration presented by French foreign minister, Robert
Schuman, on 9 May 1950, represents a milestone in the process that saw the
merging of economic interests that would help raise standards of living and be
the first step towards a more united Europe.
Most important, the pooling of coal and steel production
proposed by Schuman, aimed to make war between historic rivals France and
Germany "not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible".
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