Pope: Christian roots in future EU Constitution
Pope John Paul II has launched an appeal for the inclusion of Christian roots in the future EU Constitution. Speaking before the prayer of the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Wojtyla said that the inclusion of Christian roots will not run counter to the secular nature of political structures.
The controversial debate over whether there should be a reference to God in the Constitution will increase in the forum of the European Convention in the following weeks. A possible visit by the Pope to the European Parliament in Strasbourg next May is also not being ruled out, La Stampa reported.
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He made reference on Sunday to Saints Cirillo and Metodio, born in the 9th Century, who maintained their teaching links with both the West and the East. "I hope that their example will help the Christians of both West and East to find unity," said the Pope.
While Nordic countries and France, including Convention president, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, want to keep church and state separate, other countries particularly Germany, are pushing for a religious reference in the future EU treaty.
