! 119 millions Europeans, almost a quarter of the European population, are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The plight of Europe’s poor was the main topic of the plenary session of the Bishops of COMECE on 26-28 October in Brussels. During this meeting, the bishops representing the Catholic Church in the 28 EU…
During their Plenary Assembly, the COMECE Bishops had an exchange on the outcome and consequences of the referendum in the United Kingdom. Bishop William Kenney, delegate of the England and Wales Bishops’ Conference, explained that since the outcome of the Brexit referendum ‘there is very little clarity as to what is going to happen or…
25.10.2016 Migrants: from fear to compassion COMECE-CEC Dialogue Seminar with the EU Commission Mass migration prompted by global conflict and ecological crises has stirred up unresolved fears in European societies. Understanding and responding to this was the central theme of a dialogue seminar that took place on 24 October between churches and the European Commission….
Statement of COMECE President Cardinal Reinhard Marx on the attack in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, France (26 July 2016): « The assassination in the French Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray is shocking. The faithful who had gathered for worship in a church became victims of a terrible act of violence. The intention of this act was to stir up hatred between religions. We…
Statement of the President of COMECE, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, following the terror attack in Nice: « Last night, France has again been hit by a terrorist attack. More than 80 people were killed. We are shocked and saddened by this act of war. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their relatives and friends. I…
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini presented yesterday to the European leaders at their Summit in Brussels the new Global Strategy for the EU´s Foreign and Security Policy. COMECE, who actively participated in the reflection process, welcomes the document and hopes for its proper and effective implementation. Despite a packed crisis agenda at the EU Summit,…
The President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), Cardinal Reinhard Marx, issued the following statement following the attacks in Brussels: ‘The attacks at Brussels Airport and on the Metro in the city have upset me deeply and filled me with sadness. My thoughts and prayers go out at this…
Peace and Security Policies were at the centre of the debate at the Spring Plenary Assembly of COMECE At their Spring Plenary Assembly on 2-4 March in Brussels, the COMECE Bishops dedicated a day to the theme of EU as a peace project. They used this occasion to discuss Peace and Security Policies. After the…
“Facing a crisis with many Faces”: this was the title given to a meeting organised by COMECE which brought together bishops from the Middle East, southern and western Europe, with Catholic experts from the field, to discuss migration. It was the Bishop of Eisenstadt, Mgr. Agidius Zsifkovics, in his capacity as COMECE co-ordinator on Refugees,…
COMECE welcomes today’s European Parliament’s resolution as a significant step forward in facilitating measures to prevent the on-going incipient genocide against Christians and other minorities. Pope Francis was among the first to use the word “genocide” to describe the systematic, barbarous, lethal attacks on Christian communities and on other vulnerable groups targeted on account of…
