The Idea of Europe in the Work of Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis
The papacies of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis coincided with a period of conflict and change in Europe. In the post-war period, Europe was still divided along ideological lines, with much of it having experienced invasion, occupation, and totalitarianism. Both John Paul II (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/3/300 |
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| Summary: | The papacies of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis coincided with a period of conflict and change in Europe. In the post-war period, Europe was still divided along ideological lines, with much of it having experienced invasion, occupation, and totalitarianism. Both John Paul II (1920–2005) and Benedict XVI (1927–2022) experienced the excesses of totalitarianism, profoundly affecting their outlook. Their papacies also coincided with a formative period in the post-war era: the end of the Cold War, the emergence of a new European order, and the disenchantment with that same order. Though not hailing from Europe, Pope Francis (1936–) has been an equally vital contributor to the conversation of the “idea of Europe”. This paper proposes to identify how the idea of Europe features in the work of these three popes and whether there are elements of continuity and dissonance. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-1444 |