Category Archives: Plenary Assembly

Plenary Assembly /3

Final Communiqué

European Bishops Call for Prayer for Peace and Missionary Engagement on the Continent

At the invitation of H.E. Msgr. José ORNELAS CARVALHO, S.C.I., Bishop of Leiria-Fátima and President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, the Plenary Assembly of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) was held in Fátima from 7–10 October 2025. During the Assembly, the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences reflected on the theme: “How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe.” In his opening … Continue reading Final Communiqué »

Plenary Assembly /2

How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe. Socio-Theological Considerations: Pilgrims of Hope

The Plenary Assembly of the Presidents of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe is continuing in Fátima

The second day of the Plenary Assembly, 9 October, opened with Holy Mass and Morning Prayer – Lauds, presided over by H. Em. Card. Jean-Claude HOLLERICH, Vice-President of the CCEE. Afterwards, the participants heard the second keynote talk of the Assembly delivered by Prof. András MÁTÉ-TÓTH, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Szeged in Hungary, entitled “How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised … Continue reading How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe. Socio-Theological Considerations: Pilgrims of Hope »

Plenary Assembly /1

How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe: A Cultural Analysis of the Current Situation

The Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe started their meeting in Fátima

The CCEE Plenary Assembly opened on Tuesday, 7 October, with a solemn Holy Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, presided by H.E. Msgr. José ORNELAS CARVALHO, SCI, Bishop of Leiria-Fátima and President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference. At the end of the celebration, the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe entrusted their mission and the continent to the Blessed Virgin … Continue reading How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe: A Cultural Analysis of the Current Situation »

Plenary Assembly

“How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe”

The Presidents of the European Bishops’ Conferences to meet in Fátima

The Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) will take place in Fátima, Portugal, from 7 to 10 October 2025, with its programme dedicated to the theme: “How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe”. This annual event will bring together the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of European countries for a joint study of the Church’s evangelising mission in the … Continue reading “How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe” »

Plenary Assembly/3

The final communiqué of the work

Don Antonio Ammirati is elected as new CCEE General Secretary

The Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, entitled “Pilgrims of Hope. For a Synodal and Missionary Church”, was held in Belgrade between 24 and 27 June at the invitation of H.E. Msgr. Ladislav Nemet, Archbishop of Belgrade and CCEE vice president. The proceedings, which began with greetings from the Archbishop of Belgrade and the Apostolic Nuncio to Serbia, H.E. Msgr. Santo Gangemi, … Continue reading The final communiqué of the work »

Plenary Assembly /2

The Future of the Christian Faith in Europe. Praedicate Evangelium and the Bishops’ Conferences

The speeches by Card. Prevost and Prof. Sayer

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, was entrusted with the main report of the Plenary Assembly entitled: “the evangelizing and missionary dimension of the Church in Europe”. A reflection on the “future of the Christian faith in Europe”, that of the Bishops’ Prefect made in the light of the person of Jesus Christ, true God and true man: “the mystery of the … Continue reading The Future of the Christian Faith in Europe. Praedicate Evangelium and the Bishops’ Conferences »

Plenary Assembly/1

Pilgrims of hope. For a synodal and missionary Church

The meeting of the Presidents of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe starts in Belgrade

The annual Assembly of the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe began with a welcome from H.E. Msgr. Ladislav Nemet, Archbishop of Belgrade and CCEE Vice-President. In his speech, the Archbishop described the current religious and social context of Serbia, with 6.3 million inhabitants, 300,000 of whom are Catholics organised within one Archdiocese, three dioceses and a Greek-Catholic eparchy: a multicultural and multi-ethnic country … Continue reading Pilgrims of hope. For a synodal and missionary Church »

Plenary Assembly/4

Final Communiqué

New Steps for a synodal Church in Europe

The CCEE Plenary Assembly took place in Malta from 27 to 30 November at the invitation of the Archbishop of Malta, Charles J. SCICLUNA. The Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences, united in the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, debated the developments of the Synod, with a particular focus on the ministry of the bishop in a synodal Church and the role of supranational structures. In … Continue reading Final Communiqué »

Plenary Assembly/3

Cardinal Grech and the role of the Bishop in a synodal Church

A report in the second working session

In the second working session of the CCEE Plenary Assembly, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary of the Synod, gave an address on the synodal process and how synodality applies to the episcopal charism. The session is part of the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, which is being held in Malta from 27 to 30 November. The theme of the plenary is “New … Continue reading Cardinal Grech and the role of the Bishop in a synodal Church »

Plenary Assembly/2

New Steps for a Synodal Church in Europe

The President's speech: the challenges for the Church in Europe

The challenges for the Church in Europe are broad and range from the need to implement the synodal path desired by Pope Francis to the issues of defending life in the face of a society increasingly at the mercy of the “culture of death”, as well as various facts of recent news, including the response to abuse, artificial intelligence, and questions of justice and peace. … Continue reading New Steps for a Synodal Church in Europe »