The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) welcomed a delegation from the Mediterranean Youth Council on Wednesday, 3 April 2024. This visit was part of the Council’s official two-day tour of the EU institutions in Brussels, which included a meeting with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. Interview with Mgr. Crociata | Video interview with Mgr. Crociata |Video interview with Mgr. Baturi | Photo Gallery
Roberta Metsola, EP President meets with a delegation of the Mediterranean Youth Council. (Photo: EP)
The Mediterranean Youth Council delegation, composed of young people from across the Mediterranean region, was led by H.E. Mgr. Giuseppe Baturi, General Secretary of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI).
H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, welcomed the group together with the staff of the COMECE Secretariat. They discussed current and future challenges in Europe, including peace, development, migration and asylum, youth empowerment.
During the 2-day official visit to the EU institutions, the group was received by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and by H.E. Mgr. Noël Treanor, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union.
The meeting with President Metsola, as remarked by Mons. Crociata, is another sign of the existing relationship between the Church, through COMECE, and the European Parliament under Article 17 TFEU. This relationship is valuable in enabling the Church to fulfill its mission while allowing the Parliament to engage with Catholic perspectives, an integral component of European societies.
The General Secretary of CEI expressed gratitude to President Metsola for “the commitment to cooperation and understanding among peoples, as well as for the support for freedom, democracy and fundamental rights”.
“With the Mediterranean Youth Council – Mgr. Baturi explains – we aim to invest in young people. This equates to investing in their education and capacity to envision a different future. Europe cannot overlook the developments in the Mediterranean, nor can we disregard its vibrant and dynamic forces and the region’s potential to foster peace and friendship. This could positively impact on the rest of the world. For this reason, we wish that these young people from 18 different countries become acquainted with European institutions. Moreover, we urge the EU to recognise and consider these lively and forward-looking forces, which we hope are capable of shaping a better future.”
The Mediterranean Youth Council – in Italian, ‘Consiglio dei giovani del Mediterraneo’ – was established following a meeting of Bishops and Mayors from the Mediterranean region held in Florence in February 2022. This initiative, strongly supported by the Italian Bishops’ Conference, intends to address spiritual needs, strengthen pastoral action in response to contemporary challenges, and foster fraternal relationships.
On Tuesday, 16 April 2024, the Council’s headquarters will be inaugurated in Fiesole, near Florence (Italy). The Council’s structure, mission, and activities were showcased in Brussels during the event ‘Costruire ponti di dialogo, unità e pace tra popoli e culture’, which took place at the European Parliament on Thursday, April 4, 2024. This event featured contributions from MEP Beatrice Covassi, Mgr. Baturi, Mgr. Crociata, and Patrizia Giunti, President of Rete Mare Nostrum and Fondazione La Pira.
For more detailed information about the Mediterranean Youth Council and its initiatives, please visit www.giovanimediterraneo.org.
Media
Interview with Mgr. Crociata [IT]
Video interview with Mgr. Crociata [IT]
Video interview with Mgr. Baturi [IT]
Photo Gallery