Summary
Pope Leo XIV has been reported to have accepted an invitation from Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament (EP), to address the EP. The visit is expected to occur in April 28 and will be the first time a pope addresses the EP since Pope Francis addressed it in November 2014. The brief stopover at the EP does not affect Leo XIV’s planned visits to Algeria, an African country where he intends to visit the birthplace of St. Augustine. Additionally, the trip could include stops in Cameroon and Nigeria, marking the fourth papal visit to the country since John Paul II’s 1995 address. The visit by Pope Francis in November 2014 was significant as it marked the first time a pope addressed the EP after Benedict XVI declined an invitation from Martin Schulz. Although not confirmed yet, President Metsola’s invitation could also be used to celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the European Union. The upcoming visit by Pope Leo XIV holds particular significance as it follows the precedent set by previous popes, including John Paul II and Francis himself, who have addressed the EP on various occasions.
Key Topics
Pope Leo XIV, European Parliament, Strasbourg visit
