The CCEE Presidency expresses, on behalf of all the European Bishops, joy and gratitude to the Lord for the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope, and extends to the new Pope, Leo XIV, its best wishes for his ministry as the Successor of Peter at the service of the whole Church and the world.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, has always accompanied the work of our Council (CCEE) by pointing out the priorities of the Church’s mission to the European Bishops.
At this very difficult time for our Continent, we are convinced that the Holy Father will not fail to make us feel his closeness and encouragement: cum Petro et sub Petro, we want to proclaim the joy of the Gospel that springs from the encounter with Christ, to witness that He is the true hope of Europe.
The war in Ukraine reminds us of the need to strive for a Europe reconciled. Throughout this time we have prayed, and continue to pray, for peace. We are close to the Ukrainian people and to the other peoples of the world living in situations of conflict, aware that to achieve the gift of peace once again, Europe must rediscover its roots and its prophetic vocation.
Hope does not disappoint, Pope Francis reminded us in the Bull of Indiction of this Holy Year: «may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. Jn 10: 7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1: 1)».
In assuring our filial and unconditional obedience, we entrust to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Europe, and to the Patron Saints of our Continent, the person and ministry of Pope Leo XIV, while asking for his Apostolic Blessing for the Churches in Europe.
+Gintaras Grušas
Archbishop of Vilnius
CCEE President