In recent weeks the Bishop of Cork, the Right Reverend Paul Colton, was the personal guest of the President of the European Parliament, Cork-based MEP, Pat Cox, at an historic and unique session of the Parliament in Strasbourg. The occasion was a special debate on European enlargement (referred to by Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as "the biggest political project of our age") attended by parliamentarians from the twelve accession states.

When Pat Cox was elected President of the Parliament, Bishop Colton promised to make a pastoral visit to him there. The Bishop said, "This was the fulfilment of that commitment. I was immensely proud to see an Irish politician, centre stage, in the chair, of this hugely significant political body. Some 375 million European citizens in 15 countries are now involved in the process of European integration through their 626 representatives in the European Parliament."

As well as attending the session of the Parliament, during his four day stay in Strasbourg, the Bishop also met Cork people living and working in the city, had meetings with many of the Irish MEPs, attended a concert by the Young Janacek Philharmonia and a reception by the Mayor of Strasbourg to mark the European enlargement debate. The Bishop also met with the Archbishop of Strasbourg and was one of the speakers at the opening of a new ecumenical centre in the city, aptly named Crossroads for Europeans.

Speaking about his visit Bishop Colton remarked that it was interesting to see how fundamental religious questions are very much centre stage on the European debating platform. The extent to which, if at all, a changing Europe is a Christian club, together with the challenging need for inter-faith dialogue raised, not least, by the possible accession of Turkey to the EU, are just some of the issues which are surfacing currently

"I hope my visit was a small symbol of the commitment of the Church to our partnership in modern society with other agencies and institutions. The input of the Churches into discussions of those key questions about the future of Europe is imperative." said Bishop Colton.