“The Christian politician should distinguish himself by the seriousness
with which he approaches issues, rejecting opportunistic solutions and
always holding firm to the criteria of the dignity of the person and the
common good,” Pope Francis wrote in a June 9 message (Italian) to the European People’s Party Group at the European Parliament.
“In this regard, you have a very rich heritage on which to draw to bring
your original contribution to European politics, namely the social
doctrine of the Church,” he continued. ‘Think, for example, of the two
principles of solidarity and subsidiarity and their virtuous dynamic.”