Maltese MEP Marlene Mizzi has reacted to an email signed by two MEPs and sent  to all MEPs objecting to Pope Francis's visit to the European Parliament tomorrow.

In their letter MEPs Sofie in’t Veld ( Alde) and Virginie Roziere ( S&D - Radical left) claimed that this visit would be a monologue and not an open debate as was expected from the Chamber, and as such objectionable. They further argued that a secular institution as was the EP, should not accept addresses from religious leaders as this would not be equally representative of all 500 million EU citizens.

The visit, they said, was divisive and did not respect separation of church and state. “The Catholic Church feels it has a right to interfere in civil matters and to impose its own moral values on others, rather than accepting and respecting diversity and freedom of conscience.”

Mrs Mizzi reacted in an email also copied to all MEPs, stating that the objectors did not respect the principles of understanding, solidarity, non-discrimination for race, religion colour gender etc, and above all tolerance, as was expected from a democratic institution as is the European Parliament.

She pointed out that Pope Francis was not only a religious leader, but also a head of state, and he should be received with the courtesy normally accorded to heads of state by the EP, as had been done on other numerous occasions.

Nobody was obliged to agree with his religion or politics. Nobody was obliged to accept his ethics or opinions. But few would doubt that the message of this man would be that of unity, peace and goodwill – values which should be everybody’s irrespective of political or religious beliefs.