Vatican City, Mar 26, 2007 / 09:01 am
The Vatican’s top foreign diplomat, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, said the Holy See would not support any expansion policy of the European Union that would threaten “the principles and values forged by Christianity and that have made Europe a beacon of civilization for the world.”
According to the EFE news agency, the archbishop’s statements came during a meeting with the Committee of the European Bishops’ Conference to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
Archbishop Mamberti explained that only by preserving Christian values could the risk of cheapening the identity of the continent be avoided, and he called on European leaders not to abandon Christianity like one abandons a travel companion who becomes a foreigner.”
Europe cannot understand itself without Christianity and if the EU “betrays” Christianity, “it betrays itself.”
Likewise, he expressed his confidence that the future European Constitution would mention Christianity and would defend the family based on marriage between one man and one woman.