An email signed by 2 MEPs was sent to President Martin Schultz and copied to all MEPs and assistants, objecting to the visit of Pope Francis during the plenary session of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
In their letter MEPs Sofie in’t Veld (Alde) and Virginie Roziere (S&D - Radical left) claim that this visit will be a monologue and not an open debate as is expected from the Chamber, and as such objectionable. They further argue that the secular institution as is the EP, should not accept addresses from religious leaders as this would not be equally representative of all 500 million EU citizens.
Furthermore, these two MEPs are of the opinion that the visit of Pope Francis is divisive, as according to them, he does not respect separation of church and state. They further object to the Pope’s visit because “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.”
MEP Marlene Mizzi reacted in an email also copied to all MEPs and assistants - stating that the objection by the two MEPs does not respect the principles of understanding, solidarity, non-discrimination for race, religion colour gender etc, and above all tolerance, as is expected from a democratic institution as is the European Parliament.
MEP Mizzi pointed out that Pope Francis is not only a religious leader, but is 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.
Mizzi further stated that ‘’nobody is obliged to agree with his religion or politics. Nobody is obliged to accept his ethics or opinions. But few would doubt that the message of this man will be that of unity, peace and goodwill – values which should be everybody’s irrespective of political or religious beliefs”.
Asked about the reason of her reaction Marlene Mizzi said: “I felt that I had to put my penny’s worth in this instance as the email was uncalled for and is a contradiction in terms. While these two MEPs are objecting because they claim that ‘’this event will be divisive’’, they are themselves inciting a divisive approach to a visit by a Head of State simply because they subscribe to purely secular beliefs – to which they have a right, of course. To say the Pope Francis’s visit will be ‘divisive’ is unacceptable and defeats the principle of freedom of speech and association, so revered in a democratic institution as is the EP. After all they are free not to attend. ’’