The Jubilee Assembly of CCEE concluded with a Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of St John Lateran. Welcomed by H. Em. Card. Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, the Presidents of the European Bishops’ Conferences were taken on a guided tour of the Lateran Palace.
The Holy Mass was presided over by the new CCEE President, H.E. Msgr Gintaras Grušas, who said in his homily: “we gather here in St. John Lateran, the Mother of all Churches, to conclude our celebration of the 50 year anniversary of CCEE, the Council of the Bishops Conferences of Europe. A celebration that began with a Mass presided by the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, whose words have guided our thoughts and discussions during these days.”
Stressing Pope Francis’ invitation to walk the path of discernment together, he added: “We bishops take to heart the Holy Father’s words spoken about our role – to walk together: “noi pastori camminiamo con il popolo, a volte davanti, a volte in mezzo, a volte dietro. Il buon pastore deve muoversi così: davanti per governare, in mezzo per incoraggiare e non dimenticare l’odore del gregge, dietro perché il popolo ha anche ‘fiuto’. Ha fiuto nel trovare nuove vie per il cammino, o per ritrovare la strada smarrita”.
And he concluded: “We return to our countries and our dioceses today with a renewed commitment to walk this path into the future together, guided by the Spirit of God and listening to God speaking through His Holy People. We walk listening for the Spirit’s movement in the heart, first at the most local level, then at a diocesan level, a national level and listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit we look where God is leading us as the people of God in Europe today. But we cannot stop there, as the Church is universal and neither national nor continental borders limit the people of God. We walk together as one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, to a future that God has prepared for us, brothers and sisters all in Christ”.
The full text of the homily is attached.
