The Christian principles on which Europe was founded are either being sidelined by secularists or instrumentalised by populists for political gain, according to the continent’s Christian leaders.

Catholic bishops have joined other Christian churches in calling for an open and consistent dialogue between church and state ahead of June’s elections to the European Parliament.

In a joint statement, the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), the Conference of European Churches, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, and Together for Europe said it is of “vital importance” to facilitate a participatory democracy and ensure the broadest possible participation of citizens in decision-making processes, as well as in the management of European affairs.

They noted that a significant portion of EU citizens who see the future of Europe through the lens of Christian values “now feel marginalized, as they do not have the opportunity to express their positions and opinions in an autonomous and distinct way.”

“We also notice the exclusion of any appropriate reference to Christian values in relevant EU texts,” they said.