Pope tells Europe leaders: ‘Man forgetting God leads to violence’ and ‘Arms race one of greatest curses’

IN a speech Tuesday to the European Union Parliament and later in another speech to the Council of Europe, Pope Francis—the first non-European head of the Roman Catholic Church in 1,200 years—reminded some of the most powerful persons in our planet that “man’s forgetfulness of God leads to violence” and told them that “the arms race is one of the greatest curses on humanity.”

In Strasbourg, France, Pope Francis said he came as a pastor with “a message of hope and encouragement to all the citizens of Europe.”