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7 February 2025

POLISH EU PRESIDENCY | COMECE-CEC delegation meets with the Polish Ambassador to the EU
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16 January - COMECE and CEC General Secretary, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto and Rev. Frank Dieter Fischbach met with the Polish Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Agnieszka Bartol, to discuss the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and possible contributions of Churches in implementing the Article 17 TFEU Dialogue.

NEWS | COMECE Legal Affairs Commission discusses new EC priorities for justice and fundamental rights
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5/6 February - H.E. Mgr. Theodorus C.M. Hoogenboom led the first 2025 meeting of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission. Juridical experts from EU Bishops' Conferences discussed with various EU representatives the priorities of the new European Commission in the areas of justice and fundamental rights.
The meeting was also an occasion to exchange on GDPR, rights of the child, child sexual abuse Directive and the Freedom of Religion and Belief trends in EU Member States. The next meeting of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission is to be held on 17-18 September 2025.

NEWS | COMECE organises meeting to promote just and lasting peace in Ukraine
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30 January - The Secretariat of COMECE hosted a meeting with Fr. Mykhailo Stanchyshyn SJ, Ukrainian Jesuit who is providing aid and spiritual support to the suffering population since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The event included EU & faith-based representatives. It focused on promoting a just and lasting peace.

NEWS | Mgr. Paglia calls for greater social inclusion of the elderly in European societies
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29 January - H.E. Mgr. Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life (Holy See), spoke at a conference organised by the Italian Journalists’ Association of Lazio, held at the European Parliament and hosted by MEP Salvatore De Meo. The event focused on communication and the Jubilee. Mgr. Paglia explored the history and purpose of the Jubilee. He also emphasised the invaluable role of the elderly, and called for their greater social inclusion in European societies.

OPPORTUNITY | Pax Christi International is hiring in Brussels!
Schermata 2025-02-03 alle 15.03.25
3 February - Our friends from Pax Christi International are hiring a Communications Assistant in their Brussels office. If you are passionate about promoting peace and justice worldwide and have a background in communication click here to apply. Deadline: 10 February 2025.

EVENT | Second conference on "How to disagree well..." to be held in Brussels
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4 February - We invite you to join the 2nd conference on "How to disagree well" - an event on scriptural reasoning, fostering interfaith dialogue for a better quality of disagreement as we seek repair of a broken world. The event will take place at the Chapel for Europe, Brussels, on Tuesday 11 February 2025 at 19:00. Info & Participation | Photos of the 1st conference

SPEECH | Mgr. Crociata on the interplay of solidarity and subsidiarity in the European context
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8 January - During an event in the Triveneto Diocese (Italy) the President of COMECE, H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, highlighted how the virtuous solidarity-subsidiarity interplay can help achieve a proper balance between national identities, regional structures and EU consolidation. Read the Speech https

DOCUMENT | COMECE reaffirms its commitment to quality education for all
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24 January - On the occasion of the International Day of Education on January 24, the COMECE Secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to quality education for all, with a particular emphasis on supporting teachers. Further insights into COMECE’s contributions to education policies can be found in its latest input to an EU public consultation. Read the Document

NEWS | J&P Europe presents Pope Francis' peace message at Brussels event
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3 February - Justice and Peace Europe organised the event "Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace” to present Pope Francis' Message for the World Day of Peace 2025. The event took place at the Chapel for Europe, Brussels, and featured contributions from the co-president of Justice and Peace Europe Maria Hammershøy, MEP Charles Goerens, and JESC Director F. Filipe Martins SJ. Read Pope's Message | Read other contributions

NEWS | COMECE participates in an event of the EPP Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue
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29 January - COMECE participated in a dinner event organised by the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue to build bridges and enhance cooperation with partners. The event was hosted by the new presidents of the Working Group, MEPs Željana Zovko and Vangelis Meimarakis. For COMECE the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss key topics, including the positive contribution of Churches to the EU policymaking process, the promotion of religious education, and the expertise that Churches—as key actors on the ground—can share with EU institutions. Other topics included the promotion of freedom of religion both within and beyond the EU. COMECE was represented by its General Secretary, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto. Photo Gallery

HOLY LAND | COMECE expresses hope for dialogue, reconciliation and peace between Israelis and Palestinians
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20 January - COMECE joins Pope Francis in expressing hope the ceasefire holds, all hostages are released, humanitarian aid effectively reaches the people of the Gaza Strip. "May the international community, including the European Union, support Israelis and Palestinians to find dialogue, reconciliation, peace", stated COMECE in a recent tweet on the social media platform X. Read Pope Francis' Angelus Message

HOPE | Children from German-speaking communities visited COMECE and sang for hope and peace
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17 January - As in previous years, the COMECE Secretariat welcomed the Sternsinger, a group of children from German-speaking communities across Europe, who sang for hope and peace at the start of a new year full of challenges. More info about the Sternsingern http://More

EUROPEAN SCHOOLS | COMECE hosts meeting between religious authorities and the Secretariat of European Schools
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21 January - The Secretariat of COMECE hosted a meeting between religious authorities and the Secretariat of European Schools. The discussion included the implication of the S6-S7 reform, the action plan following the 2023 European Parliament resolution on such schools, and ways to enhance cooperation with school management.

AFRICA | COMECE echoes Pope Francis' call for urgent action for peace in the DRC
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29 January - COMECE closely follows the alarming developments in Goma and other parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, echoing Pope Francis' call for urgent action from local, regional, and international authorities to restore peace. Read Pope Francis' address

Next at COMECE

10-12 February
Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE, will be in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the Plenary Session of the European Parliament. On Wed 12 February, Fr. Barrios Prieto will attend a special event marking the 6th anniversary of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed by Pope Francis and Imam Ahmad al-Tayyeb in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The event is organised by the EPP Working Group on Intercultural and Religious Dialogue and will feature the participation of Jewish, Christian and Muslim representatives.
13-14 February
Fr. Barrios Prieto will attend the presentation and discussion of a doctoral thesis at the Sophia University Institute in Loppiano, Italy. The thesis explores the concept of community in the context of the European Union.
17 February
Adviser Friederike Ladenburger will participate in the event 'Quo Vadis Europa? - Das Arbeiten in Brüssel im Dialog', where she will present COMECE's mission of dialogue with EU institutions in light of the new institutional cycle following the 2024 European Parliament elections.
19 February
Fr. Barrios Prieto will celebrate the holy mass in the meditation room (ASP 00H152) of the European Parliament, Brussels.
19 February
COMECE will participate in the ELP Graduation Ceremony to take place in Brussels. More info about ELP.
20-21 February
European Laudato Si Alliance (ELSiA) retreat in Sint-Genesius-Rode (Belgium).
24 February
Meeting of the COMECE Standing Committee to be presided by H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata. The meeting will be online.
26 February
A group of Salesian students from Italy will visit the Secretariat of COMECE to know more about the mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union.
26 February
Adviser José Luis Bazán will participate in a meeting of the Christian Group on Migration.
28 February-2March
Meeting of Justice and Peace Europe to be held in Split (Croatia).
5 March
Fr. Barrios Prieto will celebrate the holy mass in the meditation room (ASP 00H152) of the European Parliament, Brussels.
10 March
A group of French bishops will visit the Secretariat of COMECE and have meetings with representatives of the institutions of the European Union.
12 March
A delegation from Unité Pastorale Etterbeek led by Fr. Amilcar Ferro will visit the Secretariat of COMECE and meet with General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto.
13 March
A group of students and professors from Notre Dame University will visit the Secretariat of COMECE to gain deeper insights into its mission of fostering dialogue with EU institutions and its contribution in making the EU an active promoter of global peace.
17 March
COMECE will organise and host the annual meeting of Brussels-based Catholic organisations engaged with European Union institutions. This gathering will provide an opportunity to exchange information, share best practices, and reflect on common challenges in dialogue with the EU institutions.
17 March
Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will participate in the General Assembly of the Chapel for Europe to be held in Brussels.
19 March
Fr. Barrios Prieto will celebrate the holy mass in the meditation room (ASP 00H152) of the European Parliament, Brussels.
19 March
Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will participate in the executive meeting of the European Laudato Si' Alliance (ELSiA).

20 March
A delegation from a German student association in Hannover will visit the COMECE Secretariat to learn more about the EU policy-making process and COMECE’s mission of dialogue, particularly in the fields of ethics, education, culture, youth, and external affairs.
26-28 March
2025 Spring Plenary Assembly of COMECE to take place in Nemi (Italy). More info in the next weeks.
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Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences
of the European Union

Communication & Press Manager
Alessandro Di Maio
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