First official meeting between Pope Leo XIV and the Presidency of COMECE. Vatican City, 23 May 2025. (Photo: Vatican Media)
The members of the Presidency of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) will be received in a private audience by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican on Thursday, 21 May 2026, at 10.00 a.m. The audience will be followed by a press conference in the Sala Marconi, Piazza Pia 3, Rome, at 11.30 a.m. Press Conference Accreditation
This audience with Pope Leo XIV will mark the second meeting between the Holy Father and the Presidency of COMECE since his election to the Chair of Saint Peter in May 2025.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect with the Holy Father on the current state of the European integration process and to discuss the role of the European Union in promoting peace and integral human development in an uncertain and rapidly changing world.
EU policies that could be addressed during the audience include:
- the role of the EU on the international stage, its global mission and rearmament;
- the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum;
- migration and the rise of populism in Europe;
- combating poverty and promoting social cohesion in the EU;
- EU competitiveness;
- data protection in the Church;
- the EU Coordinator on combating anti-Christian hatred;
- artificial intelligence;
- the EU Mental Health Strategy;
- EU funding for cross-border access to abortion.
General issues, including a possible visit of Pope Leo XIV to the European Parliament, the appointment of a new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU and the political shift taking place in the European Parliament, will also be addressed.
The COMECE Presidency will also present to the Holy Father the proposal to hold a new edition of Rethinking Europe in autumn 2027, exactly ten years after the first edition, which brought together around 300 participants at the Vatican, including political representatives from the European Union and its Member States, academics and representatives of Churches. The event aimed to reflect on the challenges facing the European Union and to explore ways to strengthen and renew the European project.
The COMECE delegation will comprise:
- Mgr Mariano Crociata, President
- Mgr Bernardito Cleopas Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union
- Mgr Antoine Hérouard, First Vice-President
- Mgr Rimantas Norvila, Vice-President
- Mgr Nuno Brás da Silva Martins, Vice-President
- Mgr Czeslaw Kozon, Vice-President
- Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary of COMECE
- Alessandro Calcagno, Assistant General Secretary of COMECE
Press Conference & Accredidation
A press conference will follow the audience. The press conference will take place in the Sala Marconi, Piazza Pia 3, Rome, at 11:30. Journalists and media professionals wishing to participate are invited to submit a written request through the online accreditation system of the Holy See Press Office: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti