The weakening of the European Union as well as social issues such as abortion were among concerns voiced by Pope Francis in a meeting with European Bishops last weekend.

Speaking to Crux, Father Manuel Barrios Prieto, secretary general of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), said Pope Francis, stressed the need “to maintain a strong dialogue with the European institutions.”

The pontiff, he said, was “very aware” of the status of the European Union, given the rise of far-right Euro-sceptical parties, and voiced concern over the current “fragility” of the EU, as well as the war in Ukraine and in Gaza.

“He also brought up the issue of abortion as an important concern for the Church,” Prieto said.

The Pope, Prieto said, “was concerned about a certain ‘culture of death’ that is present, and is also in Europe, and he called us to do something about this, to fight for life and the dignity of life.”

Debate over abortion has flared up in recent months following France’s vote in March to enshrine abortion as a fundamental right in its constitution – a decision that sparked widespread debate, and which the French bishops and the Vatican’s Academy for Life publicly opposed.