Pope receives Charlemagne Prize

(ANSA) - Vatican City, May 6 - Pope Francis on Friday received the Charlemagne Prize, awarded annually since 1950 by the German city of Aachen to people who have contributed to the ideals upon which Europe has been founded, with top EU officials in attendance.
    The pope received the prize from the head of the awarding committee, Juergen Linden, and Aachen Mayor Marcel Philipp, watched by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Parliament Speaker Martin Schulz.
    Schulz said Francis deserved the prize because "he recalls us to the real European values".
    He said the time had come to "fight for the EU" and the pope was a "beacon" for his message.