Pope Francis returned to Rome on Monday after a five-day trip to Cyprus and Greece. During the visit, he met with migrants and refugees, Catholics, Orthodox leaders, and politicians.

During the press conference Pope Francis said that “the European Union must be attentive not to make way for ideological colonization”.

“The European Union must take in hand the ideals of the founding fathers, which were ideals of unity, of greatness. Be attentive not to make way for ideological colonization. This could divide countries and [make] the European Union fall. The European Union must respect each country as it is structured inside, the variety of countries, and not want to standardize.

They don’t want to, I think they won’t do it, it isn’t the intention. But be careful because sometimes they come and throw projects like this one there and they don’t know what to do. Each country has its own peculiarity, but each country is open to the others.

The European Union: super unitatem sua, solidarity of the brothers in a community of brothers that respects the singularity of each country, and be careful not to be a vehicle for ideological colonization. This is why that thing about Christmas is an anachronism”, - said the Pope.