European Union

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Greek Parliament Building in Athens, Greece.

Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage

Feb 16, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Greece this week legalized same-sex marriage at the national level, becoming the first officially Orthodox Christian country to do so. Read more

Pope Francis on the morning of June 7, 2023 shortly before heading to the hospital for abdominal surgery greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis sends message from hospital to European political party

Jun 11, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In a letter to the European People’s Party, the pope urged politicians to be united on “issues where primary ethical... Read more

Pope Francis addresses civil authorities and other dignitaries at a former a Carmelite monastery in Budapest, Hungary, on April 28, 2023, on the first day of his three-day pilgrimage to the country.

Pope Francis in Hungary: European unity ‘crucial’ to peace

Apr 28, 2023

By Shannon Mullen

Pope Francis called for “creative efforts for peace” during the first address of his three-day visit to Budapest. Read more

Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), speaks at a press conference at the party electoral headquarters overnight on Sept. 26, 2022. in Rome. Italy’s national elections on Sept. 25 saw voters poised to elect Meloni, a Catholic mother, as the country's first female prime minister.

7 things to know about Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s likely new Catholic prime minister

Sep 26, 2022

By Edie Heipel, Jonah McKeown

A Catholic mother is poised to become the country’s first female prime minister.  Read more

The United Nations General Assembly in New York.

African nations stand alone against abortion rights, gender ideology at the UN 

Sep 16, 2022

By Edie Heipel

The resolution includes language stating that countries must provide “access to safe abortion” as a “human right.” Read more

Flag of the European Union

Hostility toward Christian values is growing in European institutions, Polish politician and philosopher says

Aug 5, 2022

By Solène Tadié

The European Commission’s 2022 Rule of Law report has once again singled out Poland and Hungary, accusing both countries of... Read more

Bishop Krzysztof Zadarko, chairman of the Polish bishops’ council for migration, tourism, and pilgrimages.

Catholic bishop questions lack of EU support as Poland aids millions of Ukrainian refugees

May 16, 2022

By Justyna Galant

More than three million people have fled from Ukraine to Poland since Feb. 24. Read more

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Report: EU commission proposes sanctions against Patriarch Kirill

May 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

A document described the Russian Orthodox leader as ‘one of the main supporters of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.’ Read more

Emmanuel Macron.

EU Catholic bishops criticize Macron’s call to add abortion to rights charter

Feb 8, 2022

By CNA Staff

They noted that there is no ‘right’ to abortion enshrined in international law. Read more

Emmanuel Macron.

Emmanuel Macron calls for abortion to be added to EU rights charter

Jan 19, 2022

By CNA Staff

He made the appeal after the election of a pro-life politician as president of the European Parliament. Read more

Pope Francis meets with David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament, June 25, 2021.

Pope Francis sends condolences for death of European Parliament president

Jan 11, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Sassoli’s funeral will be held in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs in Rome on... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during an in-flight press conference on the journey from Athens to Rome, Dec. 6, 2021.

Pope Francis: EU commission guide discouraging word ‘Christmas’ was an anachronism

Dec 6, 2021

By CNA Staff

He noted that a series of ideologies had attempted to pull up Europe’s Christian roots. Read more

Pope Francis meets Msgr. Aldo Giordano, apostolic nuncio to the European Union, on June 17, 2021.

Apostolic nuncio to EU dies after contracting COVID-19

Dec 3, 2021

By CNA Staff

A cardinal said that Archbishop Giordano ‘left a lasting mark on all of us.’ Read more

The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Nov. 25, 2014. Credit: Alan Holdren/CNA.

Afghanistan’s Christians ‘completely ignored’ in European Parliament resolution

Sep 17, 2021

By CNA Staff

ADF International estimates that 10,000 Christians face danger in Afghanistan. Read more

Ján Figeľ, special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion outside the EU from 2016 to 2019, meets Pope Francis in 2018.

Jan Figel: ‘It’s a pity there is no EU religious freedom envoy anymore’

Sep 10, 2021

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Slovakian politician was the first person to hold the post. Read more

Christos Stylianides at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 30, 2014.

Catholic bishops’ commission laments EU religious freedom envoy vacancy

Sep 8, 2021

By CNA Staff

The special envoy has left months after taking up the role. Read more

Robert Schuman in August 1949. Credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-19000-2453 (CC-BY-SA 3.0)

EU founding father Robert Schuman declared 'venerable' by Pope Francis

Jun 19, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has declared venerable the French statesman Robert Schuman, known as a key “founding father” of the European Union. Read more

The interior of the Church of St. Louis of the French (San Luigi dei Francesi) in Rome, Italy

EU to showcase the European history of Rome’s Catholic churches

May 4, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Weekly walks to 26 of Rome’s churches with historic ties to European nations will take place in May and June. Read more

Robert Schuman in August 1949. Credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-19000-2453 (CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Vatican official: Pope to advance sainthood cause of EU 'founding father' Robert Schuman

Apr 16, 2021

Pope Francis could declare venerable the French statesman Robert Schuman, a key “founding father” of the European Union, a Vatican... Read more

Credit: Unsplash.

Poland objects to EU declaring itself ‘LGBT freedom zone’

Mar 12, 2021

By CNA Staff

The European Union has declared itself an “LGBT freedom zone,” prompting objections from the Polish government, which says it has... Read more