Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

“We have to change direction, otherwise this is going to bring down whole political systems,” said Braulio Rodriguez, the Archbishop of Toledo.

“It is very dangerous. Unemployment has reached tremendous levels and austerity cuts don’t seem to be producing results,” he told The Telegraph.

“There is deep unease across the whole society, and it is not just in Spain. We have to give people some hope or this is going to foment conflict and mutual hatred.”

Europe’s Catholic bishops have been careful not to stray into the political debate or criticise EU economic strategy but the Archbishop said the current course is untenable.

“The Vatican has always been an enthusiast for Europe, but a Europe of solidarity where we help each other, not a Europe of coal and steel. Whether this is possible depends on Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel,” he said.