Pope, on eve of summit, urges fractured EU to find unity

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Pope Francis on Wednesday (April 22) urged Europe to remain united, on the eve of an EU summit to discuss a huge but divisive economic stimulus package.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE FRANCIS SAYING:

"In these times in which we need so much unity among us, among nations, let us pray today for Europe so that Europe manages to have this unity, this fraternal unity of which the founding fathers of the European Union dreamed".

The current crisis has put new strains on the 27-member bloc, again exposing splits between the richer north and the poorer south.

One official said it may take European countries until the summer or even longer to agree on how exactly how to finance an economic recovery,

setting expectations low for Thursday's (April 23) meet at which the bloc’s national leaders are expected to agree to use their 2021-27 joint budget to help kick-start growth.

They should also rubber-stamp 500 billion euros of immediate rescue measures that should take effect from June.