Schuman - de Gasperi - Adenauer: Europe's Holy Trinity

Two are currently being canonised; the third was good for political miracles throughout his life.

Apr 18, 2025

∙ Paid

People look at a sculpture of Robert **Schuman**, France's former foreign minister, at a park in Bucharest, Romania, in this May 9, 2006, file photo. Pope Francis has advanced the sainthood cause of **Schuman**, who helped lay the groundwork for the European Union. (CNS photo/Bogdan Cristel, Reuters)...

The existence of the EU, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, can be traced back to the foresight of Christian and humanist politicians. Three men in particular should be mentioned when it comes to the vision of a united Europe: the Italian Alcide de Gasperi (1881-1954), the German Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) and the Frenchman Robert Schuman (1886-1963). The latter was even awarded the honourary title of "Father of Europe" by the EU Parliament.

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