EPP Group to meet Pope Leo XIV and discuss future of Europe

The EPP Group will travel today to the Vatican and Rome to discuss the future of Europe and Christianity's role. At the closing of the visit, the EPP Group will be honoured to have a private audience with the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.

"Pope Leo XIV is an important moral authority and a symbol of peace. It is a great honour for me and the EPP Group to be received by him in these turbulent times. We are Christian Democrats, and we believe in Christian values. We must shape our European way of life and build a people’s Europe. Without these Christian values, our European way of life would lose its foundation; Europe would lose its identity," said EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber MEP ahead of the two-day visit.

Today, hosted by the Municipality of Rome, EPP MEPs will discuss Europe’s responsibility in the world with leading representatives of the Church. Among others, with Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Prof. Helen Alford, President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, and Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Tomorrow, Saturday morning, MEPs will discuss religious freedom as a pillar of Europe’s way of life with the EU’s new special envoy on religious freedom, Mairead McGuinness, former European Commissioner and vice-president of the European People’s Party.

"Our audience with the Holy Father comes at a crucial moment, when the world is crying out for peace – a peace rooted not only in the absence of conflict, but in justice, dignity, and solidarity among peoples. Inspired by his words, we are reminded that true and lasting peace – one that allows societies to look to the future with a reconciled spirit – can only be built through forgiveness," said Željana Zovko MEP, co-chair of the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue.

"Our meeting is a powerful affirmation that faith and dialogue remain indispensable in overcoming divisions. As Christian democrats, we must remain firmly committed to safeguarding peace, justice and mercy. As politicians, we must advocate mercy through dialogue and preventive diplomacy," stressed Zovko.