rappler.com: VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is expected to take Europe to task over racial and religious intolerance during a visit to the European parliament Tuesday, November 25, as the crisis-hit continent battles with growing populism and the specter of radicalization.
It will be the second visit by a pope to the Strasbourg-based parliament – a lightning, 4-hour trip which will see Francis address both the European parliament and the Council of Europe.
The pontiff has in the past dubbed Europe a “tired” continent which has lost its way, criticizing it for high unemployment, a declining birthrate and poor treatment of the marginalized and elderly by those in thrall to “the idol of money”.
The climate has changed greatly since the last papal visit to the French city in 1988, and Vatican watchers say the Argentine pontiff will have to fight harder to be heard in an increasingly secular continent.
The 77-year old had been criticized for neglecting Europe since his election in February last year, preferring to focus on areas of potential growth for the Roman Catholic Church, such as Asia.
Categories: Awareness, Belief, CHRISTIANITY, Church, Europe and Australia