Category Archives: Plenary Assembly

The Assembly of COMECE is formed by the Bishops delegated by the Episcopates of each Member State of the European Union. Its main function is to take the decisions necessary to pursue, in a spirit of collegiality, a closer collaboration among the Bishops’ Conferences, to address the pastoral questions connected to the development of the competences and activities of the Union.

2018 Autumn COMECE Plenary Assembly. (Credit: EEAS)

The Assembly also provides an effective platform for exchange and concertation among the EU Bishops’ Conferences, engages in a dialogue with high-level EU representatives on current and future EU policies, and sets out the main lines of the activity of the COMECE Secretariat.

A single Bishop represents the Episcopates of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Sweden, and the Republic of Finland. The Assembly also includes observers from the Episcopates of Serbia, Switzerland, Scotland, England and Wales, and Ukraine.

The Apostolic Nunciature to the European Union, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe, and a representative of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) and of Justice and Peace Europe are invited to take part in the Assembly.

The Assembly elects COMECE’s President and four Vice-Presidents from among its members ensuring that they are representative of the geographical distribution of the Episcopates of the European Union. The Assembly also elects the Presidents of the COMECE Commissions.

The Assembly gathers twice per year (during the Spring and Autumn). A seminal issue of the European integration process provides the core theme for each meeting.

Ethics, Research & Health, Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2019” to focus on EU ecological policies centered on persons, families and communities

Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union will gather in Brussels on 23-25 October 2019 to participate in the Autumn 2019 COMECE Assembly, with the participation of H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., President of COMECE. In the context of the renewed European institutions, EU Bishops will engage with EU officials reflecting on post-EU elections challenges, both from the institutional and policy levels. … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Invitation

COMECE invites you to participate in the Mass for Europe

On the occasion of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and in the context of the renewed European institutions, COMECE warmly invites you to participate in the Mass for Europe, to be celebrated at the Church of Notre-Dame du Sablon on Wednesday 23 October 2019 at 19h30. The Mass will be presided by H. Em. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ – Archbishop … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

EC President Juncker in dialogue with EU Bishops

2019 COMECE Spring Assembly

On the occasion of the 2019 COMECE Spring Assembly, EU Bishops received today, Thursday 14 March, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. Together they urged all citizens to engage into the European political debate and vote with responsibility to protect and promote the common good. The dialogue with the President of the European Commission was an opportunity for Bishops to exchange on the main … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE Spring Plenary Assembly: European Bishops to meet ahead of the 2019 EU elections

Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union will gather in Brussels on 13-15 March to participate in the 2019 COMECE Spring Plenary Assembly, with the announced participation of Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. From 23-26 May 2019, all EU citizens across the continent will have to elect the new members of the European Parliament. The results will condition the political decisions … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2018”. 2019 Elections: EU Bishops call their fellow citizens to discernment and responsibility

On 24-26 October 2018 Bishops of the European Union gathered in Brussels for the Autumn Assembly focusing on the 2019 European elections. Participants reflected on future EU challenges in dialogue with high-level officials of the Union, in particular with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Luca Jahier (EESC) and Michel Barnier (European Commission). The three-days Assembly started with … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2018”. Commemorating WWI, EU Bishops pray for Peace in Ypres

European Bishops commemorated all victims of the First World War in a major event held today, 24 October 2018, in the city of Ypres (Belgium) in the context of the COMECE Assembly “Autumn 2018” dedicated to the upcoming European elections. On the occasion of the centenary of the end of World War I, COMECE bishops urged all persons of good will to work together in … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

Vatican, Pope Francis receives COMECE new Presidency

Pope Francis received the newly elected COMECE Standing Committee today 18 May, 2018, in the Vatican City. The audience gave the possibility to Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, President of COMECE, to present to the Holy Father current points of dialogue between Bishops’ Conferences and political authorities of the EU. During a two-days visit to the Vatican, COMECE Standing Committee met several Holy See and European … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J. elected new President of COMECE

His Excellency Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., Archbishop of Luxembourg, has been elected today President of COMECE by the Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union for a 5 years mandate. In the same election, four Vice-Presidents were also elected: Mgr. Noel Treanor (Ireland), Mgr. Mariano Crociata (Italy), Mgr. Jan Vokal (Czech Republic), Franz-Josef Overbeck (Germany). Mgr. Hollerich succeeds to H. Em. Cardinal Reinhard … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

European Bishops to elect new President of COMECE

Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union will gather in Brussels on 7-9 March 2018 in order to participate to the 2018 COMECE Spring Plenary Assembly. They will elect a new President and four Vice-Presidents. The EU Bishops will elect the new President of COMECE for a mandate of five-years covering the period 2018-2023. The future President will succeed to H. Em. Cardinal … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Invitation

COMECE cordially invites you to participate to the Mass for Europe

Download Poster

On the occasion of the start of the new Presidency of COMECE and at the invitation of H.Em. Cardinal Jozef De Kesel (Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels) COMECE cordially invites you to participate to the Mass for Europe at the church of Notre-Dame du Sablon, Brussels, on Thursday 8 March, 2018 at 19:00. The Mass will be presided by H. Em. Cardinal Reinhard Marx (Archbishop of Munich … Continue reading »