Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin smiles as he is welcomed by German President Frank-Walter Stein-meier for a meeting at the Belle-vue palace in Berlin, Germany on June 29, 2021. The European Commission on Tuesday Nov. 30, 2021, retracted internal communication guidelines that had proposed substituting the “Christmas period” with “holiday period” after an outcry by conservatives and the Vatican, which termed the document an attempt to “cancel” Europe’s Christian roots. Even the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, intervened with an unusually sharp critique.
The European Commission on Tuesday retracted internal communication guidelines that had proposed substituting the “Christmas period” with “holi-day period” after an outcry by conservatives and the Vatican, which termed the document an attempt to “cancel” Europe’s Christian roots.
The European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said the draft document had been intended to highlight European diversity and showcase the “inclusive nature of the European Commission.” But in a statement, she said it didn’t meet Commi-ssion standards and failed to achieve its stated purpose.
“The guidelines clearly need more work,” she said, adding that a revised document would take into account concerns that had been raised.