Category Archives: News

Legal affairs

Challenges to the Freedom of the Church in the Context of the Pandemic

Meeting of the Legal Advisers for the European Bishops' Conferences

On the morning of 7 December 2021, twenty-six legal advisers from the European Bishops’ Conferences took part in a virtual meeting to consider the specifics of the restrictions put in place by European governments in the face of the challenge to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid-19). The meeting began with greetings from the CCEE President, H.E. Msgr Gintaras Grušas, Archbishop of Vilnius … Continue reading Challenges to the Freedom of the Church in the Context of the Pandemic »

BEREAVEMENT

Msgr Aldo Giordano, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, has died

He was the CCEE General Secretary for 13 years

On hearing the sad news of the death of His Excellence Monsignor Aldo Giordano, the Presidency and the Secretariat of the CCEE extend their sympathy to the family of Fr Aldo and his collaborators in Brussels and invoke the Lord of Life to welcome into Heaven his faithful servant, a man of dialogue and peace. The European bishops and, in particular, the Council of European … Continue reading Msgr Aldo Giordano, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, has died »

European Youth Symposium

On 18 November 2021, the online preparatory meeting

The organisational phase resumes after the stop caused by Covid

From 20 to 23 October 2022, the European symposium on the proclamation of faith will be held in Krakow at the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II, organised by the Youth Commission and the Catechesis Section of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and by the Archdiocese of Krakow. It will be the evangelical image of the story of the blind Bartimaeus, narrated in … Continue reading On 18 November 2021, the online preparatory meeting »

Plenary Assembly/7

President Grušas: Let us walk together

Concluding ceremony in the Basilica of St John Lateran

The Jubilee Assembly of CCEE concluded with a Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of St John Lateran. Welcomed by H. Em. Card. Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, the Presidents of the European Bishops’ Conferences were taken on a guided tour of the Lateran Palace. The Holy Mass was presided over by the new CCEE President, H.E. Msgr … Continue reading President Grušas: Let us walk together »

Plenary Assembly/6

Lithuanian Archbishop Grušas is the new CCEE President

Vice Presidents Card. Hollerich and Bishop Nemet

Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius, President of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference, is the new President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). He was elected by the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, gathered together in Rome for their Plenary Assembly. H.E. Monsignor Gintaras Grušas, 60, takes over as president from Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, who led the CCEE from 2016 to 2021. … Continue reading Lithuanian Archbishop Grušas is the new CCEE President »

Plenary Assembly/5

The Hon. Tajani: Europe must rediscover its soul

Europe must rediscover its Christian roots, the centrality of the person and the role of the family

“What Europe expects from the Church” was at the centre of the socio-political analysis by the Honourable Antonio Tajani, former President of the European Parliament, speaker on the third day of the Plenary Assembly in Rome. “The religious aspect of our continent cannot be relegated to a purely private matter for each one of us – affirmed Tajani addressing the European Bishops – because history … Continue reading The Hon. Tajani: Europe must rediscover its soul »

Plenary Assembly/4

Bagnasco: in the Gospel is the criteria of true laicity

The meeting of the CCEE with President Mattarella at the Quirinale

Yesterday afternoon the members of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences were received at the Quirinale by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The meeting was opened by Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, President of the CEI, who read the message of Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, CCEE President. “As pastors we have the grace of living with our communities in every corner of the continent, even … Continue reading Bagnasco: in the Gospel is the criteria of true laicity »

Plenary Assembly/3

The icon of the Patron Saints of Europe. A symbol of the CCEE Jubilee

The silver bas-relief crafted by goldsmith Michele Affidato

The sculpture symbolising the 50th anniversary of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences was created by the Calabrian master goldsmith Michele Affidato. The work, depicting the patron saints of Europe, is a bas-relief in silver embossed entirely by hand and painted with fire enamels and gold leaf. The splendid effigy was given to Pope Francis at the end of the Eucharistic Celebration in the Vatican … Continue reading The icon of the Patron Saints of Europe. A symbol of the CCEE Jubilee »