|
30 April 2025
|
🇻🇦 SEDE VACANTE | Mgr. Crociata’s message on the passing of Pope Francis
|
|
21 April - Following the passing of our beloved Pope Francis, the Secretariat of COMECE shares the message issued by H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata.
|
|
“With profound gratitude and emotion, we remember our Holy Father Francis, who tirelessly led the Church with courage and strength through years marked by multiple crises all over the world. In such difficult times, he was never afraid to face the challenges and to offer his profethic voice, always motivated by the desire to bring the joy of the Gospel to the men and women of our time.
|
|
Pope Francis was truly one of the great witnesses of our times, beloved and respected even by non-believers, and whose first concern was always directed towards the most fragile members of God’s Creation. His voice spoke to hearts with simplicity and depth, through concrete gestures of love, listening and closeness.
|
|
COMECE had the privilege of maintaining regular contact with the Holy Father throughout his pontificate. On every occasion, the bishops and staff of COMECE received his wisdom and encouragement to pursue with strength our mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union.
|
|
We remember with emotion and inspiration the Holy Father’s visit to the European Parliament in 2014, the meeting at Rethinking Europe in 2017, the audience with the full COMECE Assembly in 2023, as well as the annual audiences granted to our Presidency and the precious messages the Pope consistently dedicated to the European Union, promoting dialogue and peace. We remember Pope Francis’ visits and presence around the world, beloved and acclaimed by the faithful among the trees of the Amazon and the ziggurats of Iraq. We remember him alone on the cold, rain-soaked steps of St. Peter’s Basilica praying for the whole humanity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
We thank Pope Francis for having offered an inspired, creative, and regenerating leadership to the Church — for example, by standing firmly alongside the victims of sexual abuse within the Church and promoting genuine listening through the Synod on Synodality, with the aim of making everyone a protagonist in vital aspects of the Church’s structure and practices.
|
|
We are grateful to Pope Francis for having renewed our attention toward ecology and sustainability, offering the encyclical Laudato Si’ as a powerful instrument to promote integral development policies that take into account all aspects — not just the economic one.
|
|
We are also thankful for the encyclical Fratelli Tutti, consistently and firmly reaffirming that differences enrich us and that, despite everything, we are all brothers and sisters. For this reason, we must come closer to one another, building bridges instead of walls, abandoning war as a means of resolving conflicts, and embracing listening, dialogue, and diplomacy.
|
In this Jubilee Year — one of the Holy Father’s final great efforts — we are grateful to the Pope for his constant attention to Europe, always urging us to make it better by strengthening its vocation for peace. In his memory, and in the light of his example, we will continue with renewed commitment our service to the Church and to the common good of Europe. Thank you, Holy Father. Rest in peace.” Download the message
|
|
|
|
NEWS | Honouring Pope Francis: Commemorative Mass in Brussels
|
|
|
21 April - Following the passing of our beloved Pope Francis, a commemorative Holy Mass dedicated to the late Pontiff was celebrated by the Belgian bishops on Thursday, 24 April 2025 at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Koekelberg, Brussels.
|
|
The ceremony was organised by the Belgian Bishops’ Conference and it was presided over by Archbishop Luc Terlinden, President of the Conference, and concelebrated with the other Belgian bishops. Read the News | Read the homely of Mgr. Terlinden
|
|
|
|
AUDIO | Mgr. Crociata reflects on Pope Francis’ legacy in Europe
|
|
|
26 April - The President of COMECE, H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, was interviewed by the RAI radio programme Caffè Europa to reflect on the relationship between Pope Francis and Europe, and to recall some of the Pope’s contributions towards a Europe of peace - closer to its citizens and faithful to its founding principles. Listen the interview
|
|
|
|
VIDEO | What is the legacy of Pope Francis?
|
|
26 April - Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary General of COMECE, participated in an episode of EU Decoded dedicated to Pope Francis and his legacy. The programme also featured contributions from MEP Željana Zovko and CEC Secretary General Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach.
Together, they also explored the following key questions: What kind of Pope do Europe and the world need in the future? And what is the extent of Europe's influence on the Catholic Church today? EU Decoded is a video programme and podcast produced by the EPP Group at the European Parliament. Watch the video
|
|
|
|
VIDEO | Mgr. Crociata reflects on Pope Francis’ vision for a peaceful Europe
|
|
|
22 April - The President of COMECE, Mgr. Mariano Crociata, reflected on Pope Francis' legacy for the European Union in a video recently published by In Terris. Mgr. Crociata stated: "Pope Francis promoted direct ties among European peoples and encouraged a closer EU-citizens relationship, fostering peace in Europe and the world through a spirit of collaboration." Watch the full video
|
|
|
|
INVITATION | Upcoming webinars: European Universities Alliances — An Opportunity for Catholic Universities? | 6 & 13 May 2025
|
|
|
14 April - COMECE and IFCU invite you to join the upcoming conference “European Universities Alliances: An Opportunity for Catholic Universities?” – a two-part webinar series taking place on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, and Tuesday, 13 May 2025, from 11:30 to 12:30 (CEST). This event will explore the challenges and opportunities that the European Universities Initiative (EUI) presents for Catholic higher education institutions. Read the full invitation | Download the Concept Note | Download the Poster | Register now
|
|
|
|
NEWS | EU Bishops’ General Secretaries gather in Brussels to promote COMECE’s dialogue mission
|
|
29 April - The General Secretaries of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU gathered in Brussels to discuss and strengthen COMECE’s mission of dialogue with the institutions of the European Union so as to ensure a strong voice for the Church in Europe’s integration process and policy making. The meeting was presided over by the President of COMECE, Mgr. Mariano Crociata. Read the News | Photo Gallery
|
|
|
|
NEWS | COMECE Annual Data Protection Experts' Meeting
|
|
24 April - The COMECE annual data protection experts' meeting was held in a hybrid format and was chaired by Mgr Theodorus C.M. Hoogenboom, President of the COMECE Legal Affairs Commission. The meeting offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on current challenges in the field of data protection — such as, for example, baptism records within the Church.
Discussions also covered the work programme of the European Data Protection Board and the interpretation of Article 91 of the GDPR.
|
|
|
|
VIDEO | Mgr. Wilmer warns of risks posed by EC’s Omnibus Simplification Package
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWS | Screening of the documentary Making Dust on the loss of churches and its impact on communities
|
|
|
14 April - COMECE, the Chapel for Europe and the Future for Religious Heritage (FRH - Europe) held the screening of “Making Dust”, a documentary film for an insightful exploration of the loss of churches and the impact on our communities. It included a Q&A with film director Fiona Hallinan and prof. Ellen Rowley. Photo gallery of the event
|
|
|
|
NEWS | Spring meeting of the COMECE Commission on Ethics focuses on new technologies, health, and food safety
|
|
|
8 April - Mgr. Anton Jamnik chaired the spring meeting of the COMECE Commission on Ethics, held in a hybrid format. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the European Commission’s work programme for 2025, with a special focus on new technologies, ethics in science, and issues related to health and food safety. Experts also had the opportunity to engage in dialogue with representatives of the European Commission.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next at COMECE
29-30 April
At the invitation of the organisers, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will participate in the EPP Congress, which will take place in Valencia, Spain.
|
5-6 May
Adviser José Luis Bazán will participate as a speaker in a conference on Religious Freedom and Holy See’s diplomacy to be held at the Charles University in Prague.
|
COMECE-IFCU invite you to join the upcoming conference “European Universities Alliances: An Opportunity for Catholic Universities?” – a two-part webinar series taking place on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, and Tuesday, 13 May 2025, from 11:30 to 12:30 (CEST). More info and Registration
|
8 May
Meeting of the COMECE Youth Platform to be held at the COMECE Secretariat in Brussels.
|
8-9 May
Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will participate in the Caritas Europa Regional Conference.
|
8-9 May
Adviser José Luis Bazán will participate as a speaker in a conference on the abuse of refugee systems to be held at the Ludovika University, Budapest.
|
13 May
COMECE-IFCU invite you to join the upcoming conference “European Universities Alliances: An Opportunity for Catholic Universities?” – a two-part webinar series taking place on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, and Tuesday, 13 May 2025, from 11:30 to 12:30 (CEST). More info and Registration
|
15-16 May
Spring meeting of the COMECE Commission on Culture and Education to take place in Brussels. The meeting will be presided over by Mgr. Janusz Stepnowski.
|
19-20 May
Spring meeting of the COMECE Commission on External Affairs to take place in Brussels.
|
Meeting of the COMECE Standing Committee to be held online and chaired by Mgr. Mariano Crociata.
|
Meeting of the Executive Committee of the European Laudato Si' Alliance (ELSiA).
|
|
Spring meeting of the COMECE Commission on Migration and Asylum to be held at the COMECE Secretariat and chaired by Mgr. Jozef HaÄľko.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences
of the European Union
|
Communication & Press Manager
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
