"At a cultural center in Luxembourg, Francis made authorities and representatives of civil society smile with off-the-cuff comments on the birth rate.
In the front row, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, took their places.
A few steps away, two former presidents of the European Commission and Prime Ministers of Luxembourg, Jacques Santer and Jean-Claude Juncker, waited.
Authorities, representatives of civil society, diplomats and religious figures: 300 people came to listen to the 87-year-old pontiff in this distinguished setting.
The Pope arrived in a wheelchair on the polished parquet floor. He delivered his speech in a serious tone, warning Europe against the winds of war that are blowing again.
“It seems that the human heart does not always know how to hold on to its memory, and that it periodically strays to return to the tragic paths of war,” he told the inhabitants of this country swept by two world wars, and which was one of the pioneers in the construction of the European Union.
Among the personalities seated on the padded red chairs were three officials from the Holy See’s communication department with their eyes following the paper version of the speech. Line by line, they followed the progress of the papal words. Pen in hand, Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the dicastery, annotated his sheet here and there as his boss made brief changes."
The Pope arrived in a wheelchair on the polished parquet floor. He delivered his speech in a serious tone, warning Europe against the winds of war that are blowing again.
Among the personalities seated on the padded red chairs were three officials from the Holy See’s communication department with their eyes following the paper version of the speech. Line by line, they followed the progress of the papal words. Pen in hand, Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the dicastery, annotated his sheet here and there as his boss made brief changes."
Aleteia