Pope Francis meets European Parliament president after abortion vote – Catholic World Report

Pope Francis met with the president of the European Parliament on Saturday, two days after the EU’s law-making body endorsed an “extreme” report on abortion. The pope received David Sassoli in a private audience at the Vatican on June 26. A European Parliament press release said: “The conversation with the Holy Father focused on the need to protect the weakest and most vulnerable: the rights of people are the measure of all things. The European recovery will only be successful if it produces a reduction in inequalities.” Sassoli, a 65-year-old Italian politician, also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. The European Parliament press release said that the three men spoke about “the situation in the Mediterranean, Africa, the Western Balkans, and the accession process, and the Eastern neighborhood.” It added: “Particular focus was given to European efforts to make vaccines available in low-income countries, especially in Africa.”

Pope Francis meets European Parliament president after abortion vote – Catholic World Report