Pope Francis denounced the EU's attempt to replace the term "Christmas season" with the more neutral phrase "holiday season", saying it was a move that could well have led to an oppressive regime.
The European Commission last week made a move to replace the phrase following a public backlash, including from the Vatican.
Pope Francis did not mince his words in an interview during a flight returning to Italy from Cyprus and Greece, calling it a bad idea.
"In history, many, many dictatorships have tried to do this," the pope was quoted as saying.
"Think of Napoleon: From there… think of the Nazi dictatorship, the communist…… is the fashion of weakened secularization… But this is something that, throughout, has not worked," the EU said. to be careful not to follow the path of ideological colonization ", because otherwise it will only cause division among its members, leading to the downfall of the entire bloc. "The European Union must respect each country as it is structured within the diversity of countries, and not want to want union," he said, adding that according to Brussels, the benefit of the doubt in this case.
The resolution to change the existing wording appeared in a guide to "comprehensive communications" advising EU bureaucrats on how to make their messages more helpful to minority groups. "Christmas" was deemed inappropriate for followers of religions other than Christianity. In another example, the directive stated that "man-made" should be rejected in favor of a neutral "man-made" gender.
The proposals, which were released in late October by order of European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli, were highlighted by the Italian newspaper il Giornale in late November. The news sparked outrage among the most conservative circles, including many prominent public figures.
The Vatican's foreign minister, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, even called it an attempt to "annul our roots, the Christian dimension of our Europe."