catholics-from-luxembourg

"The history of mankind may have as many divisions as human life has aspects or sides. Its noblest form is the history of religion, as it developed in the past among the different groups of the human race. Reason shows that there can be only one true religion, based on the true knowledge and the proper worship of the one God. Thanks to the light of revelation we know that this one true religion is the Christian religion, and, since there are different forms of the Christian religion, that the true religion is in particular the one known as Catholic, concrete and visible in the Catholic Church. The history of Christianity, therefore, or more properly the history of the Catholic Church, is the most important and edifying part of the history of religion."

"The faithful are called out by the word of the living God to live Catholicism in the image of God, the One and the Trinity. Plurality is the very essence of Catholicism: unity in diversity, bound by a deep bond of love."

"Faced with events of such magnitude [as the First World War], we share the same sense of helplessness, with the impression that things are imposed on us by fate or an external force. Yet it is Man who writes history."

"The small size of our territory, as well as our turbulent history, has rendered us deeply conscient of our dependence upon those who surround us. I believe that this understanding has had the merit of keeping us from arrogance."

"Luxembourg found in the United Nations and multilateralism in general the ideal framework to flourish as an independent, sovereign state."

"Luxembourg itself, being a multiculturai and multilingual State by its history, its geographical location and the composition of its population, has often played a role of mediator between the interests of its large European neighbours and within the European Union."

"This crisis is a challenge to our conscience. It puts our committment to a hard test."

"This conflict has been going on for too long. It is essential that the parties start new direct negotiations and negotiate a sustainable peace, with the support of the Quartet. The path will be arduous, no doubt, but the objective is worth it, for the Israelis and the Palestinians and the entire region: an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security."

"At every period in her history, in different circumstances, the Grand Duchy has had to reinvent herself."

"The efforts must be shared between those who welcome and those who wish to integrate. The acceptance of the basic rules of our society, of our democratic ideas, of our ways of life and our cultural plurality are a precondition which cannot be argued against."

"Long has reality belied ethnicity-oriented conceptions of the Nation. In a country where resident foreigners make up almost half of the population, and where foreigners constitute two thirds of the working population, it no longer makes any sense. Wider conceptions of the Nation have come into being."

"Each of us, within the limits of our resources, is set to be an actor, in having a lead role in one's own life, but above all by committing to others...a profound truth [is] that everyone has a role to play in society beyond their own fate."

"Recent events show us, however, that stability and peace on our continent are not permanent institutions. Quite the opposite."

"Every fourth euro spent within the EU budget will go towards action to mitigate climate change... I am glad to see that young people are taking to the streets in Europe to raise visibility of the issue of climate change."

"We all know what to do, we just don’t know how to get re-elected after we’ve done it."

"Monetary policy is a serious issue. We should discuss this in secret, in the Eurogroup [...] I'm ready to be insulted as being insufficiently democratic, but I want to be serious [...] I am for secret, dark debates."

"I don't think Spain will need any kind of external support."

"When it becomes serious, you have to lie."

"There can be no democratic choice against the European treaties, one cannot exit the euro without leaving the EU."

"Here comes the dictator."

"We feel we need a Capital Market Union, Energy Union, Economic and Monetary Union but we also think we need security union"

"Borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians."

"Thank you, have a nice day. I will now see the president of Azerbaijan, so the nice part of the day is over."

"I have a lot of understanding for people skeptical about the EU. Because there are legitimate questions to the address about the European Union, including the Commission. You have to answer that. You have to talk to the Eurosceptic people. By the way, sometimes I am myself, I am not free from Euroscepticism sometimes. But I am not on the way to fundamental opposition."

"I was going to say he's a piece of work, but that might not translate too well. Is that all right, if I call you a 'piece of work'?"

"We decide on something, leave it lying around and wait and see what happens. If no one kicks up a fuss, because most people don't understand what has been decided, we continue step by step until there is no turning back."

"I am astonished at those who are afraid of the people: one can always explain that what is in the interest of Europe is in the interests of our countries." "Britain is different. Of course there will be transfers of sovereignty. But would I be intelligent to draw the attention of public opinion to this fact?" "There is a single legal personality for the EU, the primacy of European law, a new architecture for foreign and security policy, there is an enormous extension in the fields of the EU's powers, there is Charter of Fundamental Rights."

"The constitutional treaty was an easily understandable treaty. This is a simplified treaty which is very complicated.""

"I am determined, as is the Government, to do everything to preserve everything that we have worked for and that we believe in … by using all necessary means to fend off the hostile (bid)."

"If it's a Yes, we will say 'on we go', and if it's a No we will say 'we continue'."