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11 October 2024

STATEMENT | A heartfelt appeal for peace in the Holy Land and all the Middle East

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3 October - In light of the tragic anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks on the Israeli people, and in the face of the exceptionally grave humanitarian crisis in the region, alongside the dangerous Middle Eastern political dynamics involving an increasing number of actors, COMECE issued the following statement from its President, H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata. Download the Statement

INTERVIEW | President Mgr. Crociata shares insights on COMECE's mission and current EU challenges

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23 September - COMECE President Mgr. Mariano Crociata was interviewed by Fabio Marchese Ragona for Tgcom24's tv programme 'Stanze Vaticane'. In this rich interview, the President of EU Bishops described COMECE's mission of dialogue and shared precious insights on EU climate and migratory policies, the role of the EU for world peace, the importance of Christian values in Europe, and the fight against populism. Watch the video interview

INTERVIEW | COMECE President Mgr. Crociata: "Empower Every Diplomatic Effort to End the War'"

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30 September - Insightful interview with our President, Mgr. Mariano Crociata, inspired by Pope Francis' G7 speech, discussing anthropological challenges on which the civic ethos of peoples shapes Europe's future amidst complex international relations. The interview is in Italian language. Read the full interview

DOCUMENT | COMECE issues public contribution to the EC public consultation on the European Education Area

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23 September - COMECE issued its contribution to the European Commission's public consultation on the European Education Area (EEA). The contribution was elaborated by the COMECE Commission on Culture and Education. Mgr Stepnowski: "The teaching profession should be central to #EUeducation policies for the sake of young generations' development".
Read the news and download the document

INTEGRAL ECOLOGY | Latin American community leaders in dialogue with the EU at COMECE

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8 October - The Secretariat of COMECE hosted religious, indigenous and youth leaders from Latin America for a dialogue with EU policymakers and Brussels-based faith actors. Focus of the meeting: impact of mining on local communities and a people-centred, just and sustainable transition. News & Photos

PRAYER | Commemoration mass for Mgr. Treanor celebrated in Brussels

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24 September - A commemoration mass for Mgr. Noël Treanor, the late Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, was recently held at the Chapel for Europe, in Brussels. Participants prayed for Mgr. Treanor's eternal rest. The homily was offered by COMECE General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto. Read News | Read Homily | Watch video of the mass

YOUTH | Conference “Youth, Intergenerational Dialogue, and Faith-Based Political Engagement” held in the context of Pope Francis' visit to Belgium

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4 September - In the context of Pope Francis' visit to Belgium, COMECE organised the conference “Youth, Intergenerational Dialogue, and Faith-Based Political Engagement,” held as part of the Hope Happening festival. The conference was provided a platform for exchange on intergenerational dialogue, youth empowerment, and faith-based political engagement. News | Photos

SPEECH | Fr. Barrios Prieto: "Interreligious and intercultural dialogue are fundamental in bridging the Mediterranean"

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28 September - COMECE General Secretary Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto participated in the EPP Group Summer University held in Naples (Italy), focused on Europe and its neighbourhood. In his intervention, Fr. Barrios Prieto stressed the importance of inter religious and intercultural dialogue in bridging the Mediterranean. Read his speech | Photos of the event

NEWS | Pope Francis elevates the Apostolic Administration of Estonia to a Diocese

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7 October - On the 100th anniversary of the Apostolic Administration of Estonia, Pope Francis has elevated it to a Diocese. COMECE expresses warm congratulations to the Bishop of Tallinn, Mgr. Philippe Jourdan, and the entire Estonian Catholic community! In this photo from left to right: Mgr. Jourdan, Mgr. Crociata, Fr. Barrios Prieto. Click here to watch a documentary about the former Apostolic Administration of Estonia.

HERITAGE | Pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Viru-Nigula

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25 September - This month, our ‘Christian Heritage month by month’ column presents the pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Viru-Nigula, in the Diocese of Estonia. Read more

MEETING | Youth social projects in Central-Eastern Europe

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9 October - Our adviser Marek Misak took part in a socioMovens meeting held in Dortmund (Germany) for its 10th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of Kommende Dortmund. We express our sincere congratulations and look forward to working together on youth social projects in Central-Eastern Europe.

SAVE THE DATE | CEI organises conference on health inequalities in Europe

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18 September - L'Ufficio Nazionale per la pastorale della salute is organising a conference on health inequalities in Europe. The event will take place in Rome, at the Pontifical Lateran University, on Friday 22nd November 2024, from 14:00 to 19:00 (CET). The list of speakers also includes Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Secretary of State, Holy See), Mgr Mariano Crociata (President of COMECE), and Mario Draghi (former President of the European Central Bank). The programme is still being developed. Further information, including the final list of speakers, will be shared in the coming weeks.

YOUTH | 2024 Autumn Meeting of the COMECE Youth Platform

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4 October - Fruitful meeting of the COMECE Youth Platform on the 2024-2025 programme and the priorities of the youth organisations members of the Platform. The meeting was also an occasion to exchange with MEP Benedetta Scuderi on youth organisations challenges, education, training opportunities for young people, Erasmus+ and environmental policies.

PARTNERS | Renovabis Executive Director visits COMECE

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10 October - COMECE General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto received Dr Markus Ingenlath, Executive Director of Renovabis. Together they exchanged perspectives on promoting justice and peace in Ukraine, strengthening dialogue and social cohesion across Europe. We look forward to intensify our cooperation.

PEACE | Discussing EU peace and security policies

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4 September - COMECE hosted a researchers and professors from different European countries (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Ukraine) to exchange on perspectives for EU’s peace and security policies. The experience, part of the group's ‘European Peace Ethics Colloquium’, also included an exchange with the European Institute of Peace on the ethics of peace negotiations and a study visit to the European Parliament.

PEACE | Delegation from Asociación Ignacio Echeverría visits COMECE

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3 October - COMECE received a delegation from Asociación Ignacio Echeverría, an organisation dedicated to promoting the values embodied by Ignacio Echeverría, who heroically sacrificed his life during the London Bridge terror attack on June 3, 2017. Ignacio, a Spanish citizen, was known as the "skateboard hero" for his courageous actions, confronting attackers to protect others. His selflessness continues to inspire people around the world, as his legacy lives on through the foundation's work to spread values of bravery, solidarity, and compassion. Official website of the foundation | News | Photo Gallery

YOUTH | COMECE participates in the CCEE Youth Commission in Santiago de Compostela

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19 September - Our adviser Emilio Dogliani attended the Joint Meeting of the Sections of the CCEE Youth Commission in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. He shared insights on our work on youth policies and highlighted young people's post-elections challenges and young Catholics' vision for the EU.

ECOLOGY | ELSiA held two events on global water management

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2 October - As part of the Season of Creation, which culminated on 4 October, the European Laudato Si’ Alliance (ELSiA) held two special events focused on water management: the vernissage of "Burnt Landscapes", an exhibition by French painter Claire Forgeot, and the conference "Water - Too much, too little" focused on global water challenges. Visit ELSiA official website

MIGRATION & ASYLUM | Pope Francis' message on the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees

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29 September - We invite you to read Pope Francis' message on the occasion of the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which was held on September 29th. The theme of the message is "God walks with His people”. The message is available in different languages. Read the message

Next at COMECE


15-16 October
Meeting of the COMECE Commission on Social Affairs. The meeting will be presided over by Mgr. Galea-Curmi.

17-18 October
COMECE adviser Alessandro Calcagno will participate in the Conference with Churches “Shared responsability: cooperation between States and religious communities in Europe” to be organised in the context of the Hungarian EU Presidency in Budapest, Hungary.

21 October
Autumn meeting of the COMECE Youth Net.

21-23 October
Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will be at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for its plenary session.

25 October
General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto and adviser Marek Misak will participate in the event “European Future Talks 2024 – Is there a just war? European values in times of aggression”, to be held at the Pontificia Universita’ Gregoriana, Rome.

29-30 October
Meeting of experts of EU Military Ordinariates to take place in Brussels.

31 October
A group of theology students of KU Leuven will visit the Secretariat of COMECE.

5-7 November
COMECE General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will participate in the 2024 CCEE-CEC Joint Committee.

13-15 November
COMECE adviser will participate in the European Conference on Child Safeguarding in the Catholic Church, organised in Rome by the Pontifical Commission for Protection of Minors.
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Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences
of the European Union

Communication & Press Manager
Alessandro Di Maio