One of the last battles fought by the Polish pope at the beginning of the 21st century was Europe's embarking on a path of secularization that cut it off from the intuitions of its founding fathers.
Between 2000 and 2005, John Paul II unsuccessfully attempted to have the “Christian roots of Europe” explicitly mentioned in the draft European Constitution. The France of Lionel Jospin and Jacques Chirac, in the name of secularism, rejected this proposal, at the cost of a diplomatic crisis with the Holy See, which expressed its “regrets.” Without this reference, the European Constitution was rejected by a majority of voters in the May 29, 2005 referendum held in France in a tense and polarized climate.
Twenty years after these heated debates, the subject of Europe's spiritual identity, which was also particularly dear to Benedict XVI, remains essential from Rome's point of view. The papacy is concerned about a sense of dislocation from European ideals.
No peace without “shared truths,” worries Leo XIV
In a message delivered on January 23 at a European conference in Luxembourg, Leo XIV urged the promotion of “the role of Catholic values in building a more peaceful and just European continent.” In a tone similar to that of his predecessors, he lamented “today’s great resistance to discussing the universal values that religion or any belief system may contribute to the common good of society.”
“No community, let alone a continent, can live in peace and thrive without commonly held truths that inform its norms and values,” warned the pope, denouncing “the spread of relativism and the reduction of truth to opinion.”
“The tradition received from your fathers is a precious treasure,” the Pope said as he greeted thousands of Croatian pilgrims on October 7, 2025. “Wherever you are, remain attached to your Christian roots and offer the witness of a people who love Christ and his Church,” he urged them.
Cultural treasures
Similarly, speaking to a delegation from the European Conservatives and Reformists parliamentary group on December 10, Leo XIV emphasized that “European identity can only be understood and promoted in reference to its Judeo-Christian roots.” In a speech delivered in English, he cited the “cultural treasures” of “Western civilization,” such as its “towering cathedrals, sublime art and music,” but also the “advances in science” made possible by Christian communities.
“These developments create an intrinsic link between Christianity and European history, a history which should be cherished and celebrated,” he told the parliamentarians, who purport to defend Europe's Christian values.
During his Urbi et Orbi Christmas blessing, the pope called on the European continent to embrace “a spirit of community and cooperation, in fidelity to its Christian roots and history, and in solidarity with – and acceptance of – those in need.”
A few weeks later, in an apostolic letter, he emphasized the importance of Christian archaeology in understanding the “roots” of Europe, citing John Paul II's 1981 appeal in which the Polish pontiff stated that “Europe needs Christ.”
Pope Francis, wary but radical
Pope Francis sometimes distanced himself from the political exploitation of the theme of Europe's Christian roots, expressing concern about a “triumphalist” tone or a lack of pluralism in the interpretation of this concept. Nevertheless, he also referred to this theme during certain trips, such as to Slovakia in 2021.
Above all, in his homilies at the chapel of the Santa Marta residence between 2013 and 2020, the Argentine pontiff repeatedly returned to the theme of “apostasy” and the loss of roots, pointing out the inconsistencies of a civilization that claims to be Christian but lives in sin. His questions to each Christian implied a sharp criticism of Europe and the West.
He made a particularly strong statement in his homily on November 29, 2018: "Do we live as Christians? One might think so. But in reality, our life becomes pagan when these things happen, when we enter into the seduction of Babylon, and Jerusalem lives like Babylon. We want to create a synthesis that cannot be achieved. And both will be condemned. Are you a Christian? Live like a Christian. You cannot mix water and oil: they always remain different. This is the end of an internally contradictory civilization that calls itself Christian but lives like a pagan."
