Does the devout Catholic Van Rompuy want to preside over a Holy Roman Empire?

The Telepgraph ^ | November 20, 2009 | Damian Thompson

[Plainsman]

The appointment of Herman Van Rompuy as “President of Europe” is a gift to conspiracy theorists who fear the re-emergence of a Europe dominated by Rome. The wellspring of the Belgian’s Eurofederalism, like that of the EU’s founders, is his Catholic faith. He makes monthly retreats to a Benedictine monastery; even his wife is overawed by “the force he can find in his faith”.

I can already see the words “Holy Roman Empire” forming on the lips of Eurosceptics whose mistrust of the EU draws on a dislike of Catholicism. And perhaps there is just a grain of truth in the jibe: for Van Rompuy is determined to preserve the Christian character of Europe. That’s why he opposes Turkish entry to the EU. As he put it in 2004:

“The universal values which are in force in Europe, and which are fundamental values of Christianity, will lose vigour with the entry of a large Islamic country such as Turkey.”

[campaignPete R-CT]

When I think of the EU, the word “Holy” is the first thing that comes to mind.

[SuziQ]

Very interesting! I wonder if he’s met Pope Benedict XVI? I would think he would have, at some point.

[Spike Knotts]

Sounds good to me. Raise the banner and we’ll come running.

[Claud]

LOL

[stripes1776]

“The universal values which are in force in Europe, and which are fundamental values of Christianity, will lose vigour with the entry of a large Islamic country such as Turkey.”

Van Rompuy is so concerned with European universal values that he writes in the poetic form of European literary tradition--the haiku.

[elcid1970]

This is like National Lampoon’s “The Immigrants” with Gregory Puck, when the featured group, “the hillbillies” forsook their situations in Europe and headed for America.

“I don’t like it here in Switzerland! My pants are too short, the cheese’s got holes in it, and hell, I’m a Baptist! I don’t wanna guard no Pope!”

“In America, they got cheese in aerosol cans, and you can get blue jeans real cheap!”

;^)

[Moltke]

The Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation) was Germany in the middle ages. Perhaps sanctioned in title by the pope, but hardly ruled by Rome.

[HarleyD]

The appointment of Herman Van Rompuy as “President of Europe” is a gift to conspiracy theorists...

Hmmmm....could it be that perhaps it's not just talk?

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Of course the Empire originally included northern Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the Low Countries, eastern France, and some miscellaneous territories, making it much more international.

[Quix]

Fascinating in a disturbing sort of way.

[Petronski]

This agglomeration which was called
and which still calls itself
the Holy Roman Empire was
neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.
                                                --Voltaire

[Moltke]

You are correct, of course. I just thought I’d point out it wasn’t a “Roman Empire” - have met too many people who were misled by the name. And the title of the thread made me wonder what the understanding of the author is.

[LadyDoc]

There is some old Catholic prophecies that the “Great Prince” (related to the French and Hapsburg royal families) will run Europe at the time of the “Great Pope”.

Supposedly he will throw out the Muslim invaders, while religious revival will occur under the Pope, and then there will be a period of peace before the anti christ comes.

Anyone know this guy's genealogy?