Pope Francis has said
that Europe lacks leaders in an interview with Catholic weekly
Tertio published by the Vatican press office on Wednesday.
"That 'never again war' was something that Europe said
sincerely," the pope said.
"Schumann, De Gasperi, Adenauer... said it sincerely. But
after... today there is a lack of leaders. Europe needs leaders,
leaders who go forward".
Asked what he would say to Europe on the postwar vow 'never
again', Francis replied: "I spoke to the European continent
three times, twice in Strasbourg and once last year, or this
year, I don't recall, when there was the Charlemagne Prize (May
6, 2016)
"I believe that that 'never again war' has not been taken
seriously, because after the First (World War) there was the
Second, and after the Second, there is this third that we are
living through, in bits and pieces.
"We are at war. The world is waging the third world war:
Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa, Yemen...it is very serious.
"So, we say 'never again war' but meanwhile we are making
weapons and selling them; and we are selling them to the same
people who are fighting; because the same arms manufacturer
sells them to this or that, who are at war with each other. It's
true.
"There's an economic theory that I have not tried to prove,
but I've read it in several different books: that in the history
of humanity, when a State saw that its finances weren't good, it
made war and brought its finances back under control.
"That is to say, it's one of the easiest ways to produce
wealth.
"Certainly, the price is very high: blood. That 'never again
war', I think it was something that Europe said sincerely,
Schumann, De Gasperi, Adenauer... they said it sincerely.
"But afterwards...".
A this point the pope stated that today Europe needs leaders
that can move the continent forward.
Francis has issued several calls in the past for Europe to
show greater cohesion and solidarity on several fronts, starting
with the migrant and refugee emergency.
He has also called for more policies to help the weakest and
most needy components of European society.
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