Category Archives: Presidency

Synod

Grušas: may man be open to the peace that comes from God

The homily from the Mass celebrated at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's

It is an appeal to mankind to be open to the peace that comes from God, that was launched by Archbishop Gintaras Grušas in the homily from the Mass celebrated at the opening of the day at the Synod of Bishops. The focus is, of course, also on the situation in the Holy Land which the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences is following closely, but … Continue reading Grušas: may man be open to the peace that comes from God »

Press Release

Nagorno Karabakh, the CCEE appeal to overcome the humanitarian emergency

Looking with concern at the humanitarian emergency taking place in Nagorno Karabakh, the Presidency of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences joins the Pope’s repeated calls for a negotiated solution in the region that has been at the centre of conflict for too long and asks the international community to alleviate the humanitarian emergency of the hundreds of thousands of displaced. According to the latest … Continue reading Nagorno Karabakh, the CCEE appeal to overcome the humanitarian emergency »

Presidency

The CCEE Presidency with Pope Francis

A letter containing best wishes from the General Secretaries of the European Bishops’ Conferences is delivered to the Pope.

On 24 June, the Presidency of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences was received in audience by Pope Francis. The annual appointment with the Pope is an opportunity to take stock of CCEE’s activities and identify priorities for the Church on the Continent. Among the topics on the agenda were the presentation of the Continental Assembly of the Synod, held in Prague from 5 … Continue reading The CCEE Presidency with Pope Francis »

Presidency

Patriarch Bartholomew to Grušas: “continue our fruitful collaboration”

The CCEE President in Istanbul for Pentecost

At the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, participated in Istanbul at the celebration of Temperance Day, which in the Orthodox calendar kicks off the Pentecost celebrations. Bartholomew called for ever greater cooperation with the CCEE, especially in the light of the “unholy war” that is taking place in Ukraine and, … Continue reading Patriarch Bartholomew to Grušas: “continue our fruitful collaboration” »

Europe

The Final Document of the Continental Assembly of the Synod is published

The concluding dossier, which also contains the final considerations and the Bishops' concluding note, was delivered to the General Secretariat of the Synod

As of today, the final document of the Continental Assembly of the Synod, which was held in Prague from 5 to 9 February 2023, is available on the Assembly website (https://prague.synod2023.org/en/)  and the website of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (https://www.ccee.eu). The draft document was accepted by the Assembly in the final session on 9 February. Both in the debate immediately afterwards and … Continue reading The Final Document of the Continental Assembly of the Synod is published »

Europe

Grušas: a Christian appeal is needed in Ukraine to overcome the narrative of war

In a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, the CCEE President relaunches the challenge of ecumenism

In an extensive address in Vilnius, during the meeting organised by the European People’s Party’s Working Group on Interreligious Dialogue and in the presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, President of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences, relaunched the requirement for ecumenical commitment to overcome divisions and work towards reconciliation on the continent. He emphasised that this commitment can also be decisive … Continue reading Grušas: a Christian appeal is needed in Ukraine to overcome the narrative of war »

Presidency

Wishes to Pope Francis on the tenth anniversary of his pontificate

And the thanksgiving for his “European magisterium”

On the tenth anniversary of his pontificate, European bishops join Pope Francis in calling for a just peace in Ukraine; they thank the Pope for his extensive “European magisterium,” retracing some of its fundamental stages, highlight the commitment to “help Europe rediscover the ever-young face of Jesus and his bride.” These are the main contents of the letter of good wishes that the Presidency of … Continue reading Wishes to Pope Francis on the tenth anniversary of his pontificate »

Statement

Ukraine, Grušas: called to be peacemakers!

Appeal from the CCEE President

One year after the Russian Federation’s aggression that provoked the war that is still ongoing in Ukraine, the President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, Gintaras Grušas, renews his appeal to the international community to work to silence the weapons and stop this conflict. The European bishops and Christian communities continue to pray for the victims of this war and their families: throughout the … Continue reading Ukraine, Grušas: called to be peacemakers! »

Press Release

The sympathy and solidarity of the European episcopate to the Church of Nicaragua

Remarks from the CCEE President on the situation in Nicaragua

The situation that the Church in Nicaragua is experiencing is a source of pain and concern. On 11 February, Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa was sentenced to 26 years in prison and lost Nicaraguan citizenship. In the previous days, four Catholic priests, two seminarians and a deacon from the diocese of Matagalpa, arrested together with the bishop, had been sentenced to ten years. On behalf … Continue reading The sympathy and solidarity of the European episcopate to the Church of Nicaragua »

Press release

Continental Assembly of the Synod, the Bishops’ commitment.

The final remarks

The bishops of the European continent have undertaken to develop further “a synodal Church,” following the indications of Pope Francis, rejoicing in how the works of the Continental Assembly in Prague were “an unmistakable sign of our unique belonging to Christ.” The commitment is presented in the concluding note of the bishops, who met in Prague from 10 to 12 February to discern the contents … Continue reading Continental Assembly of the Synod, the Bishops’ commitment. »