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 current cultural and social context of the continent.
Programme:
The meeting will begin on Tuesday 7 October with the inaugural Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.
On Wednesday 8 October, after the liturgical celebration in the Chapel of the Apparitions, the proceedings will officially commence following the greetings from H.E. Msgr. José ORNELAS CARVALHO, Archbishop of Fátima and President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, as well as Fr. Carlos Manuel PEDROSA CABECINHAS, Rector of the Fátima Sanctuary. The introduction to the work will be provided by H.E. Msgr. Gintaras GRUŠAS, Archbishop of Vilnius and CCEE President.
The morning working session will include a presentation of the current situation in Europe, with contributions from H.E. Msgr. Mariano CROCIATA, President of COMECE, H.E. Msgr. Bernardito AUZA, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, Msgr. Marco GANCI, Holy See permanent Observer at the Council of Europe, and Msgr. Michael LANDAU, President of Caritas Europa. The activities of the CCEE Commissions will also be presented by their respective Presidents: Family and Life, Evangelisation and Culture, Youth and Social Pastoral Care.
In the afternoon, there will be a thematic session on the central theme of the Assembly, “How to be Missionary Disciples in a Secularised Europe: a Cultural Analysis of the Current Situation in Europe”, provided by Prof. Isabel CAPELOA GIL, Rector of the Catholic University of Portugal. This will be followed by group work and a plenary discussion.
On Thursday 9 October the reflection will continue with a social analysis of secularised Europe, offered by Prof. András Máté TÓTH, professor of religious studies at the University of Szeged in Hungary. After the debate and further group work, participants will visit the Monastery of Batalha and, subsequently, will go to Nazaré for a visit to the Shrine.
The final day, Friday 10 October, will open with Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions. The concluding working sessions will follow, including one on the theme “Perspectives and Implementation of the Synod”, which will also contain the closing discussion.
Media
We would like to inform the press that an official press release will be made available at the end of the Plenary Assembly.
For further information, please contact Monika Klimentová, CCEE press officer: media@ccee.eu