European unity Archives

A divided Europe cannot stand; solidarity needed, pope says

Oct 27, 2020

Europeans must not see their rich history simply as a fond memory of a time long gone, but they must look to it as a guide to overcoming divisions and challenges aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis said.

By Junno Arocho Esteves

European bishops mark 30th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall

Nov 7, 2019

Catholic bishops from the European Union marked 30 years since the breaching of the Berlin Wall with tributes to those who worked for peaceful change, as well as warnings against resurgent “ideologies behind the building of walls.”

By Catholic News Service

Irish bishops say Brexit means EU elections have ‘far-reaching implications’

May 21, 2019

Ireland’s bishops have warned that this week’s European elections have “rarely been more important,” due to the “potentially profound and far-reaching implications” of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

By Charles Collins

German cardinal says Church must work for greater European unity

Sep 5, 2018

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, has said that the Church must support social and political unity in Europe.

By Catholic News Agency

New head of EU bishops’ commission sets out priorities

Mar 10, 2018

The new head of a commission representing Europe’s Catholic bishops pledged to combat populism and promote European unity.

By Catholic News Service

Bishop says Catholic charities will be hit if UK exits EU

Jun 3, 2016

MANCHESTER, England — European funding for Catholic aid agencies based in the U.K. could be withdrawn if the British people vote to leave the EU in late June, said an English bishop. Auxiliary Bishop William Kenney of Birmingham said groups such as CAFOD, the overseas aid agency of the Catholic

By Catholic News Service

Pope Francis and Christianity beyond the bunkers

May 8, 2016

Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, had an insightful piece on Saturday in the Italian paper Corriere della Sera about the speech Pope Francis delivered the day before in receiving the prestigious Charlemagne Prize for European integration. In a nutshell, Riccardi’s argument was that Francis sees the main

By John L. Allen Jr.

Pope sketches a new alliance for Europe’s future

May 7, 2016

[Editor’s Note: Andrea Riccardi is an Italian Church historian, a former minister in the Italian government, and the founder of the Community of San’t Egidio. This piece appeared in the May 7 edition of the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, and is published here in a Crux translation courtesy of

By Andrea Riccardi