Pope Francis refuses to remove the word Christmas from a European Union document

Pope Francis considered it an “anachronism” or a “watered down secularism” to want to eliminate the references to Christmas that appeared in a document of the European Union (EU) on recommendations of politically correct and inclusive language and that was later withdrawn.

This is how he referred to this controversy during the press conference before journalists on the return trip from his trip to Greece and Cyprus.

“It is an anachronism. In history there have been so many dictatorships that have tried to do this, such as Nazism or communism. It is a fad, it is watered down secularism but this has not worked,” he said.

The controversy broke out when an internal EU document was leaked that called for the use of inclusive and non-discriminatory language and among the recommendations was also to congratulate the holidays and not “Christmas” or also avoid references to “Jesus, Mary or Joseph “.

The document also recommended, among other things, not to use in speeches “Ladies and Gentlemen” but a more neutral phrase, such as “Dear Colleagues” (“dear colleagues”).

Finally, the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, announced on Twiiter that it was an “immature document and that it does not meet the Commission’s quality standards.”

“The recommendations clearly need more work so I am withdrawing the document and we will work more on it,” added Dalli after complaints from many European politicians.

Francisco added that the EU has to return “to the ideal of the founding fathers of unity and not open the way to ideological colonization because it could divide the countries and make the EU fail.”

He added that he believes that it was not the intention of the EU, but asked “to be attentive to these things” and “to respect the uniqueness of each country.” (I)