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POPE FRANCIS WILL today make a short four-hour visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
His visit is being welcomed by most but is also attracting some small-scale objections. Some left-leaning lawmakers argue that he has no place visiting secular European institutions.
The activist group Femen staged a brief demonstration at the cathedral in Strasbourg yesterday, with one woman draping herself in the European flag at the altar.
Other local religious leaders are angry for a different reason: they are upset that the Pontiff will not be visiting the city’s famous cathedral.
Pope Francis’ trip is the first by a Pope to Strasbourg since John Paul II visited in 1988.
Back then, Pope John Paul II was the subject of a far more high-profile and infamous protest when his speech was heckled by Ian Paisley.
Paisley held up posters reading “Pope John Paul II – Antichrist” and he quoted a 16th century anti-Papist slogan before being ejected from the chamber.
This time around there is unlikely to be such an objection with Pope Francis set to keep his speech secular, focusing on issues like unemployment and immigration.
- Additional reporting by Associated Press
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What a horrible human being Paisley was.
There are many that were a lot worse than him in the DUP, still are.
The Devil is still trying to get Ian Paisley to leave…
That’s the real Paisley.
Daft as a brush
God Bless the Holy Father.
Praise jebus.
I don’t see anything “Holy” about this man. only God is Holy. Pope Francis is still just an ordinary old man dressed up in a religious costume.
Yeah you guessed the right god out of thousands. Well done /s
This guy as he is referred to is the most popular leader on the planet, he is also a head of state and perfectly entitled to be received with honour at the parliament
The head of a religious order has no place visiting secular European institutions.
He is the head of a religion but he is also a head of State who has diplomatic relations with many nations. He is also the religious and spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. Why shouldn’t he address them. Nobody would object if the Dalai Lama was visiting.
Head of what state? Vatican City?
The P.R Pope I wonder what he’ll say? Probably something like the wealthy need to do more for the poor then back to the opulence of the Vatican and its billions and it’s track record of crimes against humanity.Yet some people think this guy and the crowd he represents have some moral authority I mean talk about deluded.
Well, he gave the opening speech at an Anti-Gay Conference conference last week, which slipped conveniently under the radar.
European Christian Political Movement have 3 seats in the European Parliament.
Plenty of other MEPs are members of “Christian Democrat” parties at a national level.
It’s hardly a secular place.
Also, as someone else pointed out; he is a head of state.
Angela Merkel is the leader of the Christian Democratic Union in Germany . God bless her :-p
have your say