Category Archives: Ecology & Sustainability


In the Treaties the European Union professes the principles of sustainability, the protection of the environment and the fight against the causes and effects of climate change. Regularly these ambitions are in conflict with other aims of the EU like economic growth, agriculture and industrial policy.
Since 2008 COMECE has been engaged with the topic of climate change and regularly stressed the necessity of an ecological conversion and a different and more sober style of life. In his encyclical «Laudato si» Pope Francis has flagged up this idea with his concept of an «integrate ecology» that underscores the link between the protection of the environment and climate, the fight against poverty, social justice, economy and politics.

News

Job opportunity: The European Laudato Si’ Alliance (ELSi’A) is looking for a Project Coordinator

The European Laudato Si’ Alliance (ELSi’A) is looking for a Project Coordinator who will coordinate its network on behalf of all its member organisations. The position is a full time/5 day per week, one-year contract, with the possibility of extension. The job is based in Brussels. Download the Job Offer or read the offer on Linkedin. The European Laudato Si’ Alliance (ELSi’A) is a joint … Continue reading »

Press Release

Third Laudato Si’ Reflection Day: “Laudato Si’ for a just recovery”

Five years after the publication of Pope Francis’ Encyclical letter on the “care for our common home”, representatives of European Bishops’ Conferences, as well as Catholic organisations and movements, held in Brussels the Third European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day on Thursday 28 May 2020. Leading economist Mariana Mazzucato, the Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development of the Vatican Monsignor Bruno-Marie Duffé and … Continue reading »

Invitation

Join the 3rd European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day!

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, COMECE and its partners invite you to participate in the third European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day on Thursday 28th May 2020, from 15h00 to 17h00. The event will be held as a webinar due to the current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2. The theme of this year’s event is “How the Encyclical Laudato … Continue reading »

NEWS

COMECE supports the process launched with the European Green Deal

COMECE welcomes the ‘European Green Deal’ as presented yesterday Wednesday 11 December 2019, at the European Parliament by EU Commission’s President Ms. Ursula von der Leyen. “It is very important that Europe takes the lead in the care for our environment” – stated COMECE General Secretary, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto. “It is also desirable – continued Fr. Barrios Prieto – that the EU institutions go … Continue reading »

NEWS

World Church leaders call upon COP25 for urgent climate action

Following the recent Synod of the Bishops on Amazonia, the President of COMECE, H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, together with other Catholic Church leaders from across all continents, issued a call upon policymakers participating in COP25 for immediate actions to be taken to tackle and overcome climate change. Church leaders from every continent express their deep concern about the poor state of commitment and … Continue reading »

Press Release

EU Bishops call for a fair and inclusive transition towards integral ecology

COMECE Autumn 2019 Assembly

On 23-25 October 2019 delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union gathered in Brussels for the COMECE Autumn 2019 Assembly. The meeting was dedicated to post-EU elections challenges and, in particular, to ecological policies centered on persons, families and communities. In the context of the renewed European institutions, Bishops discussed priorities of the incoming European Commission in dialogue with an EU representative. In … Continue reading »

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 Release

Second European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day: “Towards a Life-Style conversion”

Four years after Pope Francis’ Encyclical letter on the “care for our common home”, representatives of European Bishops’ Conferences, as well as Catholic organisations and movements, held in Brussels the Second European Laudato Si’ Reflection Day on Wednesday 12 June 2019. At the core of the event, a call on Catholics and all people of good will to carry out a lifestyle conversion to answer … Continue reading »

Invitation

Second Laudato Si’ Reflection Day: “Towards a true Life-Style conversion”

Following last year Laudato Si’ Reflection Day, COMECE is pleased to invite you to the Second Laudato Si’ Reflection Day to deepen the discussion on the ecological conversion Pope Francis called for in his Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’. Participants will exchange on creative Church practices and projects aiming to better take care of the Creation. This meeting will be a good opportunity to highlight Church … Continue reading »

NEWS

COMECE President in Washington DC to promote “Integral Ecology”

Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J., President of COMECE participated in an international conference on “Integral Ecology” organised at the Georgetown University (USA) in preparation of the Pan-Amazon Synod scheduled on 6-27 October 2019. Mgr. Hollerich called for ensuring accountability of the private sector with regard to legal, social and environmental standards. Promoting the messages carried out by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, Church leaders from … Continue reading »