Category Archives: Press

Press Release

The COMECE President created Cardinal by Pope Francis

Pope Francis elevated Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, Archbishop of Luxembourg and President of COMECE, to the dignity of Cardinal during the Consistory held at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, on Saturday 5 October 2019. Along side Mgr. Hollerich, the Holy Father created 12 other new cardinals from every part of the world. “Their origins – stated the Holy Father – express the missionary vocation of the … Continue reading »

NEWS

How can the EU promote sustainable peace and human development?

COMECE EU External Relations Commission

The COMECE Commission on the EU External Relations gathered on 30 September-1 October 2019 to discuss the future Foreign and Security Policy agenda of the renewed European institutions. In dialogue with EU representatives, COMECE reiterated the Church’s will to contribute to Europe’s global role for sustainable peace and integral human development. Under the chairmanship of H.E. Mgr. Rimantas Norvila (Lithuania), the experts delegated by the … Continue reading »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »