• The Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) and the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferencs of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) are to hold a new Seminar with bishops from the two continents in Fatima (Portugal), from 12-15 April 2018, on the theme The significance of globalisation for the Church and for cultures in Europe and Africa.

    Following the desire to promote growing pastoral collaboration between the epsicopate of the two continents, for more than a decade the two continental bodies have been organising a series of symposia and seminars to strengthen communion and collaboration, and reflection on the great challenges facing the Church.

    The theme will be introduced in an address from Professor Livia Franco from the Institute of Political Studies at the Portuguese Catholic University. Subsequently, it is envisaged there will be three sessions looking at the impact of globalisation on young people, on migration and in the understanding of humanity and human ecology. Each of these will be introduced with two interventions, one by a European bishop and one by an African bishop.

    As a conclusion, an intervention from a European bishop and one from an African bishop will seek to outline the mission of the Bishop in the face of the challenges of globalisation.

    At the end of the Seminar, the bishops will adopt a final message reflecting their deliberations.

    The seminar is taking place in Portugal at the invitation of the President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, His Eminence Cardinal Manuel Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon, who will be present at the meeting. The meeting will be hosted by the Shrine of Fatima. The Bishop of Leira-Fatima, His Lordship Mgr António Marto, will also welcome participants on behalf of the local diocese. The meeting will be chaired by His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of CCEE, and by His Grace Mgr Gabriele Mbilingi, President of SECAM. On Thursday 12 April, the two Presidents will speak at the opening session which will take place in Lisbon’s Seminario dos Olivais.