Pope receives EU president

Martin Schultz

Pope Francis received the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, in a private audience in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace yesterday. The meeting was an occasion for the two men to look ahead to the Pope’s journey to Strasbourg scheduled to take place next month.

They met for the first time in the Vatican exactly one year ago when Schultz’s visit coincided with the publication of an essay written by him to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Saint Pope John II’s visit to the European Parliament back in 1988.

Schultz wrote: "It would be a great honour to hear again the message of the Holy Father, his words of foresight, solidarity and hope”. It was in that occasion that he invited Pope Francis to address the plenary yet again, something he will do in the morning of 25 November, before going on to give another address to members of the Council of Europe.

After his first audience with the Pope, President Schulz released a statement on his visit saying there are many issues on which the two men share similar views and on which, he said, we can join forces: like “the protection of refugees in the Mediterranean, the fight against poverty and social exclusion or improving the prospects of young people both within and outside the EU”.

Source: VIS