Pope Francis Unifying Church and State (Source thetrumpet.com) On November 25, Pope Francis became the first pontiff in nearly 30 years to visit the European Parliament. Pope John Paul II was the last pope to address the Parliament in what he described as a “special moment in the history of this Continent.” His ecstatic visit in 1988 came as communism was crumbling in Eastern Europe, providing a great opportunity for Europe to unite. Pope Francis, not so jubilant on his recent visit, delivered a somber message to the European Parliament. Two weeks earlier the Continent had celebrated the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. That event has become the symbol of Europeans unifying. But Pope Francis believes the Continent has not done enough. The pope’s comments should send shivers down the spines of history students. Most people don’t realize the destruction caused throughout history by the Catholic Church. Here is a modern pope rallying the European continent to unite behind it and return to its “glory days.” Four days after addressing the European Parliament, Pope Francis traveled to Turkey to visit the head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew. On this trip the pope focused on improving relations between the two churches. There has been a great divide between the two churches since 1054 when the Eastern Orthodox Church split from the Roman Catholic Church over the authority of the pope. The Catholic Church has held many empires together throughout history. Soon, it will again provide the glue to unite a European superpower.