General view of the meeting

Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union will gather in Brussels on 23-25 October 2019 to participate in the Autumn 2019 COMECE Assembly, with the participation of H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., President of COMECE. Malta will be represented by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi.

In the context of the renewed European institutions, EU Bishops will engage with EU officials reflecting on post-EU elections challenges, both from the institutional and policy levels.

In dialogue with representatives of the EU Commission, Bishop-delegates will analyse and discuss the priorities and organisation for the incoming European Commission.

On the impulse of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si’”, Bishops will also focus on EU ecological policies centered on persons, families and communities.

In this context, different angles of this policy area will be addressed – environment, the most vulnerable, demography and development – with four Catholic actors: the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM)Caritas Europa, the Federation of Catholic Families (FAFCE) and the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE).

The President of COMECE, Archbishop of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., recently created Cardinal by Pope Francis, will take part in the Assembly coming directly from Rome, where he is currently participating in the Synod on the Amazon region.

On Wednesday 23 October, at 19h30, the “Missa pro Europa”, a Mass for Europe, will be celebrated at the Church of Notre-Dame du Sablon, Brussels, on the occasion of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The participation is open to everyone.

Source: COMECE