Grondlegger van de EU door paus zalig verklaard (en)

According to French daily Le Figaro, the Pope is set to beatify Robert Schuman - one of the founding fathers of the EU - next September.

This is the first step on the road to Sainthood.

The Head of the Catholic Church will take up an invitation to address the Council of Europe in Strasbourg next September - if his ailing health allows.

And he is expected to use this occasion to beatify Mr Schuman, to underline the Christian roots of Europe.

Robert Schuman is widely seen as the 'father of the EU'. As French foreign minister in 1950, he proposed that France and Germany should join forces and create the European Coal and Steel Community on an equal footing. Germany agreed and the first institution of the EU was born.

Following this, he was unanimously elected President of what was then known as the joint assembly and is now known as the European Parliament.

Beatification is the first step in the process that leads to a member of the Catholic Church becoming a Saint.

To take the final step, miracles have to be proved.