Pope says Christians must bring Gospel values to European Union

Published: 2004-11-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- European Christians must bring Gospel values to the European Union and its institutions in order to promote peace and the common good of the continent's peoples, Pope John Paul II said. The pope dedicated his Oct. 31 Angelus address to the signing of the new European Constitution, which now must be ratified by the 25 countries that make up the union. The prime ministers and heads of state of the 25 countries signed the constitution Oct. 29 in a fresco-covered hall on Rome's Capitoline Hill. The Vatican and Catholic bishops throughout Europe had lobbied hard for the constitution to contain a reference to Europe's Judeo-Christian roots, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The pope said the signing of the constitution was "a highly significant moment in the construction of the 'new Europe,' to which we continue to look with hope."

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