Cardinal Vincent Nichols has suggested that if Britain leaves the European Union it would create “complex problems”. At the spring meeting of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales the Archbishop of Westminster said that the path to division “almost inevitably leads to further division”. The cardinal said: “There is a long tradition in Christianity and Catholicism in particular of believing in holding things together. So the Catholic stance towards an effort such as the EU is largely supportive. “If the vote was to leave Europe I think we would face more complex problems and greater difficulty in finding our role in response to it than we would by playing an active and vigorous part with partners within the EU.” He accepted that his comments “basically answer” the question of how he would feel if the vote was to leave. Cardinal Nichols’s personal statement went significantly further than the resolution passed by the bishops’ conference, which did not encourage a vote in either direction. The statement stressed that the European Union was founded on the principles of peace, subsidiarity and solidarity. “Our decision in the referendum should thus be taken in the context of how best we can promote justice and peace,” the bishops said. They continued: “We must ask ourselves, in the face of every issue, what will best serve the dignity of all people both within Europe and beyond.” Recalling “that Europe has a two thousand year-old Christian culture that has shaped the continent and is a dynamic spiritual, moral and intellectual resource as we address the future,” the bishops suggested we should pray before casting our vote. Bishop Paul Gallagher, the British-born Secretary for Relations with States in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State – effectively the Vatican foreign minister – said in January that the Vatican wants Britain to remain in Europe. “The Holy See respects the ultimate decision of the British people – that’s for the British electorate to decide,” he said. “But I think we would see it [Brexit] as being something that is not going to make a stronger Europe.” FULL TEXT OF THE BISHOPS' STATEMENT: Reflecting on the forthcoming vote, we recognise the historic nature of this referendum and its implications for future generations. The outcome will have consequences for the future not only of the United Kingdom, but for Europe and for the world. In our view, three things are essential: