Pope Francis sends message from hospital to European political party

While recovering in the hospital, Pope Francis sent a message to the largest political party in the European Parliament. The pope urged politicians to be united on issues where primary ethical values and important points of Christian social doctrine are at stake.

The Christian politician should distinguish himself by the seriousness with which he approaches issues, rejecting opportunistic solutions and always holding firm to the criteria of the dignity of the person and the common good,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis signed the letter on June 9, two days after he underwent a three-hour surgery for an incisional hernia. A team of surgeons removed scar tissue and operated on a hernia in the pope’s abdominal wall at the site of a previous surgical incision.