Another papal thumbs-up for EU

It would take a very thick volume to bring together all the statements made by John Paul II in favour of the enlargement of the European Union.

This page has from time to time communicated some messages to its readers. The most recent papal thumbs-up was pronounced last week during a meeting with Gabor Erdody, professor of German history, and new Hungarian ambassador to the Vatican.

The enlargement of the EU should guarantee not only a broader exchange of goods, but also a sharing of cultural and spiritual values to strengthen peace, justice and solidarity on the continent, John Paul II said.

"The Holy See is pleased before the prospect of this enlargement of the Union, which should permit the progressive re-establishment of the unity of the European continent, broken with the Yalta division and the closing of the Soviet bloc," the Pope said.

"The free movement of people and goods, as well as the dialogue of cultures and the exchange of spiritual riches among the nations, are the elements capable of overcoming fears, narrow-mindedness and the nationalist narrowness that even in the recent past have stirred so much hostility on a European and world scale."

John Paul II expressed the hope that Hungary, "witnessing to its history and rich cultural identity, will make its contribution so that the Europe of tomorrow will not just be a great market of material goods, but rather the living expression of the numerous cultural and spiritual riches, proper to each nation and placed in common at the service of the Union."

The Pope's positive attitude - in spite his constant criticism and lobbying to try and induce changes in the proposed constitution of Europe - shows the vision that John Paul II has of the future. This contrast heavily with the narrow and pessimistic attitude of local Eurosceptics.