Category Archives: Archive

Plenary Assembly/1

Let us help today’s Europe to rediscover the ever-youthful face of Jesus

Mass at the Vatican presided over by Pope Francis

The Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences opened this afternoon in Rome with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Pope Francis in the Vatican Basilica. Sixty participants took part in this jubilee event to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the CCEE’s establishment. The Holy Father, in his homily, thanked the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences for the “the reconstruction work carried out … Continue reading Let us help today’s Europe to rediscover the ever-youthful face of Jesus »

From 23 to 26 September 2021 in Rome

CCEE Plenary Assembly begins

The working programme

The Jubilee Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences will begin tomorrow afternoon with Mass presided over by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica. At the end of the Holy Mass, the participants in the Plenary Assembly will gather together at Peter’s tomb to renew their profession of faith. After a period of silence and a moment of personal prayer at the tombs of … Continue reading CCEE Plenary Assembly begins »

Eastern Catholic Churches

Eucharist and Synodality

Meeting of the Eastern Catholic Bishops of Europe

From 4 to 8 September 2021, the Annual Assembly of the Eastern Catholic Bishops of Europe, promoted within the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, was celebrated in Budapest in conjunction with the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress. This year, after the obligatory postponement of the previous year’s Assembly due to the Covid-19 emergency, the activities were resumed. The theme proposed for reflection was “Eucharist and Synodality”, … Continue reading Eucharist and Synodality »

Joint Press Release

Family associations at the service of the Church and the common good

Agreement between the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) And the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE)

With the signature of Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), and of Atty. Vincenzo Bassi, President of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE), a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two organisations to formalise the cooperation already in place. “Pastors and families are called to be together” – affirmed Card. Bagnasco – “for the … Continue reading Family associations at the service of the Church and the common good »

General Secretaries of the Bishops’ Conferences

Authenticity of the Church and Credibility in Her Mission starting from the Encyclical Ecclesiam Suam

The annual meeting in electronic format

Many times, we hear that the Church needs to be more credible and that if the world does not believe, it is because the Church is not credible enough. It is precisely from this conviction that the meeting of the General Secretaries of the European Bishops’ Conferences began. Two days of online meetings brought together 48 participants connected from their respective headquarters, to reflect together on … Continue reading Authenticity of the Church and Credibility in Her Mission starting from the Encyclical Ecclesiam Suam »

Social Communications Section

Pandemic and Ecclesial Communication: new pastoral challenges

Meeting of the press officers and spokespersons for the European Bishops' Conferences

48 participants from all over Europe met online for the annual meeting of the Press Officers and Spokespersons for the European Bishops’ Conferences on the theme “Pandemic and ecclesial communication: new pastoral challenges”. It was a meeting to reflect on how to live up to the challenges of this time: the digital environment, new forms of socialisation and participation, potential and critical issues for communication, … Continue reading Pandemic and Ecclesial Communication: new pastoral challenges »

CCEE Presidency

Appeal to Europe for Lebanon

Together with Pope Francis we pray for the gift of peace and stability

Accepting the invitation of Pope Francis to pray for Lebanon, the CCEE Presidency, on behalf of the Bishops throughout the continent, joins “our brothers and sisters of faith and humanity in Lebanon” and invokes the gift of peace and stability together with a renewed commitment to support the Country of the Cedar. Making their own “the requests of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Catholic Bishops … Continue reading Appeal to Europe for Lebanon »

EVS - Vocations Section

The challenges of vocation ministry in Europe in the time of the pandemic

Annual meeting of the directors for vocational pastoral work

The annual conference organised by the European Vocation Service was held on 14 and 15 May. The online mode enabled some fifty delegates from twenty-two European Bishops’ Conferences to attend. The introduction to the work by H. Em. Card. Angelo Bagnasco, CCEE President, renewed the awareness of the uniqueness of each vocation and its singularity in the service of the Church. Father Valdemar Linke, a … Continue reading The challenges of vocation ministry in Europe in the time of the pandemic »

Family and Life Commission

Family: for a pastoral ministry of mission and communion

First online meeting of the Bishops and national delegates

50 participants from 28 European Bishops’ Conferences met online for the meeting of National Directors for Family and Life, organised by the CCEE’s Family and Life Commission. The meeting, which was due to take place in Vilnius in May 2020, but was cancelled due to the pandemic, was opened by greetings from H.E. Msgr Arūnas Poniškaitis, Vice President of the Family and Life Commission and … Continue reading Family: for a pastoral ministry of mission and communion »