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Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE joins Pope Francis’ call for not excluding anyone

2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees

COMECE First Vice-President H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata (Italy) will concelebrate today, Sunday 29 September 2019 at 10h30, the Holy Mass presided by Pope Francis on the occasion of the 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR). The theme for this important day of prayer and action is “It is not just about migrants”. In the context of globalization of “indifference”, the Holy Father explained … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Press

NEWS

Road Safety: EU Bishops promote responsibility

For the second consecutive year, COMECE supports “Project EDWARD”, the European day without a road death, endorsed by the European Commission to make Europe’s roads safer and to reduce the number of accidents in the EU. According to a recent study, road traffic accidents in EU Member States claimed about 25.600 lives and left more than 1.4 million people injured in 2016. These numbers tend … Continue reading »

Press, Youth policies

NEWS

COMECE: “Interreligious youth dialogue strengthens democracy in Europe

Young people of different faiths gathered at COMECE on Tuesday 24 September 2019 to discuss the contribution of interreligious youth exchanges in strengthening and building trust in democracy in the EU. The event, co-organised by COMECE and the Bavarian Youth Council (BJR), focused on “Dialogue for Democracy” (Dialog für Demokratie), a youth project established by the Bavarian Youth Council in 2016 to overcome prejudices, build … Continue reading »

Press, Youth policies

Invitation

Dialogue for Democracy: The contribution of interreligious youth work projects to social cohesion in Europe

Tuesday 24 September 2019, 12h00 – 14h00 at the COMECE Secretariat, Brussels Together with the Bavarian Youth Council (BJR), COMECE organises a lunch debate to discuss the contribution of interreligious youth exchanges to strengthening and building trust in democracy in Europe. The event will mainly focus on “Dialogue for Democracy”, a project that has recently gathered young people from different backgrounds and religions to overcome … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

Mgr. Hollerich to be created Cardinal by Pope Francis

Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, new General Secretary of COMECE, expresses great joy on behalf of COMECE Bishops and staff for the recent announcement given by Pope Francis on the forthcoming appointment of Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, Archbishop of Luxembourg and President of COMECE, as Cardinal. In a congratulations letter sent to Mgr. Hollerich and to all COMECE Bishops, Fr. Barrios Prieto, on his first day … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

COMECE meets with indigenous leader ahead of the Pan-Amazon Synod

On Friday 5thJuly 2019 COMECE welcomed Mr. Adriano Karipuna, indigenous leader from the Brazilian Amazon region, to discuss the challenges faced by local communities and to gather views ahead of the Bishop’s Synod for the Amazon, which will take place in Rome on 6-27 October 2019. Accompanied by Mr. Cleber César Buzatto – Executive Secretary of the Indigenous Missionary Council of Brazil (CIMI) – Mr. … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Press

NEWS

Laudato Si‘: good practices of a spiritual and ecological conversion

In Spring 2019 COMECE and its partners organised the Second European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day to sharpen the view on what is necessary and possible to do in order to facilitate the ecological conversion described in Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si’”. The required conversion is key to maintain «our common home, the Earth», and goes beyond the «spiritual change», also including a change of … Continue reading »

Press, Youth policies

NEWS

COMECE encourages the EU to empower young people

On the occasion of the 2019 International Youth Day, COMECE calls the EU to implement youth policies reducing the forms of youth exclusions, and empowering young people at all levels of economic, social and political life. Young people represent around 1/3 of the population in the European Union. Many of them experience uncertainty, frustration and marginalisation due to the high unemployment rate, which deprives them … Continue reading »

EU External Affairs, Press

NEWS

COMECE reflects on future priorities for the Eastern partnership

In the context of the 10th anniversary of EU’s partnership with its six Eastern neighbouring countries, COMECE will address the future priorities of this policy framework during the Autumn meeting of its Commission on EU External Affairs, discussing ways to empower youth, families and local communities. Following the June 2019 European Council, the European Commission and the European External Action Service are supposed to present … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Press

NEWS

COMECE advocates for humane treatment in irregular migrants’ return process

In the context of the reform of the EU Return Directive, COMECE calls for human-centered policies including the fundamental rights protection of irregular migrants at all stages of their return, the implementation of alternatives to detention, the full respect of the principle of non-refoulment and the prioritisation of voluntary return. According to recent statistics, more than 1/3 of the return decisions were effectively implemented in … Continue reading »