Back Pope Francis in Strasbourg

Pope Francis visits and addresses the Council of Europe

Pope Francis paid an official visit to the Council of Europe on Tuesday, 25 November. Following an invitation by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland at a private audience accorded at Vatican City, His Holiness addressed the Organisation, as it celebrates its 65th anniversary, in a solemn session gathering all its institutions.

Pope Francis was welcomed by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, by Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel (on behalf of the Belgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers), by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Anne Brasseur, by the President of the Congress Jean-Claude Frécon, by the President of the European Court of Human Rights Dean Spielmann, by the Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks and by the President of the Conference of INGOs Jean-Marie Heydt.

Pope Francis speech

Welcoming remarks by Thorbjørn Jagland at the Meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis

Speech by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Anne Brasseur

Video of the visit

Press release

Photo gallery

Photo archives

Pope to bring message of inclusion to Council of Europe Vatican Radio

See also:
Holy See and the Council of Europe

Background

The last visit by a Pontiff to the Council of Europe was on 8 October 1988, when Pope John Paul II was welcomed on the eve of the Institution's 40th anniversary.

The Holy See was granted Observer status with the Council of Europe on 7 March 1970, but the co-operation began in 1962.

As a State Party to the European Cultural Convention, the Holy See plays an active role in the cultural work of the Organisation. It also participates in the evaluation and monitoring process of Moneyval.

The Holy See is also member of the following Council of Europe bodies:

  • European Commission for Democracy through Law (known as the Venice Commission);
  • Council of Europe Development Bank;
  • European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity (known as the Lisbon North-South Centre).

Further information

On this special occasion, the Strasbourg Historical Museum has lent the original Council of Europe lectern used by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

The stained glass “Strasbourg Madonna” (by Max Ingrand): a reproduction of the gift donated in 1956 by the Council of Europe to Strasbourg and its Cathedral will be shown to Pope Francis.

The tapestry "Astronomie" (after a cartoon by Cornelis Schut from the Vatican Museums), a gift donated by Pope Paul VI to the Council of Europe in 1977, will also be displayed.

Council of Europe Strasbourg 25 November 2014
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page