The Pope made his latest appeal in an audience with members of a foundation for the Co-operation of Christian Democrats in Europe.

The Pope said many of them were from countries about to join an enlarged EU, including former Soviet bloc states, “countries for which Christianity often provided decisive assistance on the path towards freedom”.

“From this standpoint you can also easily see how unjust it would be for today’s Europe to conceal the pivotal contribution made by Christians to the downfall of oppressive regimes of whatever stripe, and to the building of authentic democracy.”

Europe’s founders, like Adenauer, De Gaspari and Schuman, had put their Christian faith at the centre of their political lives, the Pope said.

“How can we underestimate, for example, the fact that in 1951, before beginning the delicate negotiations which would lead to the adoption of the Treaty of Paris, they wished to meet in a Benedictine monastery on the Rhine for meditation and prayer?”

John Paul II has bemoaned the fact that the draft treaty forged during a 16-month European convention in Brussels makes no mention of Christianity.

Only four countries, Ireland, Spain, Italy and Poland, are negotiating to have Christianity inserted into the text, which is due to be completed by the end of the year. The other current EU members argue that European unity is founded on the separation of Church and state.

“It is necessary that Europe recognise and preserve its most cherished patrimony, made up of those values which have and continue to guarantee her a providential influence in the history of civilisation,” the Pope said.

“It is undeniable that Christianity has been the force able to promote, reconcile and consolidate them. For this reason it seems logical that the future European Constitutional treaty, aimed at achieving ‘unity in diversity’ should make explicit mention of the Christian roots of the Continent.”