VATICAN CITY, Dec 11: Pope John Paul made a dramatic eve-of-summit appeal to European Union leaders on Thursday, urging them not to neglect Christian values in the first EU constitution, due to be finalized at a crucial meeting in Brussels.

“It is indispensable that Europe today safeguards its heritage of values, and acknowledges that Christianity, above all, has been the force capable of promoting them, reconciling them, and consolidating them,” the pope said.

John Paul was presiding over a special Christmas mass in St Peter’s Basilica for students attending Catholic universities in Rome and other European cities.

The cardinal Vicar of Rome, Camillo Ruini, concelebrated the mass at the basilica with 70 bishops and university chaplains from the 25 current and future members of the European Union.

The pope told the congregation of students “you too, must offer your contribution” to a new Europe.—AFP