Pope Has "Intense" Meeting With German Chancellor

[VoxClamantis]

I'm putting this post in here because of its importance to the secular realm in Europe. From Zenit:

 

 

Date: 2006-08-28
Pope Has "Intense" Meeting With German Chancellor
2 Weeks Ahead of Papal Trip to Germany

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 28, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI received German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a 40-minute private audience, which she later described as "intense."

The meeting held in the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo came two weeks before the Holy Father's apostolic trip to his native Bavaria, from Sept. 9-14.

Speaking to reporters after the audience, Merkel said that the two "had an intense conversation on world politics, especially on the situation in the Middle East and on what the international community is doing with Iran."

One key topic was the development of the present process of European integration and of the continent's identity, she said.

"I believe a European identity is needed, in the form of a Constitutional Treaty and, from my point of view, it should be connected to Christianity and God, as Christianity has forged Europe in a decisive way," she added, as reported by Vatican Radio.

At present, the draft of the Constitutional Treaty, which made no reference to Europe's Christian roots, is at a standstill after it was rejected in referendums held in France and Holland last year.

Merkel clarified that her meeting with the Bishop of Rome took place in her capacity as chancellor of Germany, and not as leader of the Christian Democratic Union, though it was mentioned that the party has a very good relationship with the Vatican.

The chancellor traveled in a private plane to Rome, accompanied by six people, among them her foreign affairs and security adviser, Christoph Heusgen, responsible for the security plan for the Pope's visit to Bavaria.

Aware of the Pope's passion for music, Merkel gave him an old Mozart score.

[GrumpyTroll]

I can already hear the secularists ranting, shouting and gasping for breath at the mere suggestion of mentioning God in an eventual European Constitutional Treaty.

By the way, Angela Merkel has strong ties with German Freemasonry.

[VoxClamantis]

And another story of this type, this one from agi.it:

 

 

 

BERLUSCONI: ITALY MUST BE CATHOLIC AND OF ITALIANS

 

 

(AGI) - Rimini, Aug 25 - "The left's stand" on immigration "is the exact opposite of our position. The left wants a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country, while we want Italy to be Catholic and of Italians", said CDL leader Silvio Berlusconi, enthusing the crowd at the Communion and Liberation Meeting. "We are ready to welcome with full rights those who come here to help and we demand that this help is not only for working alongside us, but also to respect our rules, our laws and our traditions." As far as granting citizenship is concerned, the CDL leader explained that "the length of stay should not be the only factor for granting Italian nationality. I believe people should be allowed to become Italian citizens if they can pass examinations on our language, history, geography, the fundaments of the State, the Constitution and laws". Berlusconi then concluded that, therefore, rather than an "automatic recognition of citizenship" there should be "an evaluation of all the things which should be the demonstration of a reasoning and cultural desire to truly become an Italian citizen".

[HMiS]

By the way, Angela Merkel has strong ties with German Freemasonry.

 

1. Prove this alliance or supposed ties by references.

 

2. Freemasonry in Germany is, like in England, often rather conservative (even Nationalist) in a political sense, and non as atheist anti-Catholic as it was and still is in Romance countries (France, Italy, Spain).

[winoblue1]

quote:

 

"I believe a European identity is needed, in the form of a Constitutional Treaty"

 

A constitutional treaty or declaration won't amount to anything while the muslims slowly repopulate Europe.... why not do some real good and help the church re-establish itself as a leading cultural force by stopping abortion and sending the illegal immigrants home?

[HMiS]

Do you know that Merkel, daughter of a Protestant Pastor of the Lutheran Church of the former communist German Democratic Republic ("East Germany"), is the first First Lady or female President in history to refuse to wear a mantilla in the presence of the Holy Father, as etiquette requires?

 

She is in that aspect a really feminist, "progressive Christian" and one opposed to Rome on top of that. (Merkel was a chemical scientist, is married [to quite a nerd as far as I know], and has no children at all.) Not very nice of her to do this. I think it is offensive. I would even take off my shoes to treat with e.g. the King of Saudi Arabia. That's just politeness. But Merkel does not for her fellow countryman Pope Ratzinger.