From 19 to 21 November 2025, at the invitation of H.E. Msgr. Leo CUSHLEY, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, a meeting of the legal advisers of the European Bishops’ Conferences was held in Edinburgh on the theme “Revision of Canon Law and Reform of the Church”.
After the opening greetings from the Rev. Antonio AMMIRATI, General Secretary of the CCEE, and from H.E. Msgr. Leo CUSHLEY, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, the General Secretary of the Scottish Bishops Conference, Rev. Gerrard MAGUINESS, presented the situation of the Church in Scotland.
The first working session opened with a speech by Dr. Sara PARVIS from the University of Edinburgh on the theme “Theological and Canonical Principles in the Revision of Canon Law”. Dr. Parvis demonstrated how the theology and practice of early Christianity can offer fundamental principles for the revision of modern Canon Law. In her view, a renewed Code of Canon Law should reflect these original principles: clarity, synodality, pastoral care and a compassionate path for those who wish to return to the Church.
The second session was dedicated to the theme “The Relationship between the Particular and Universal Church in the Light of Synodality”. Rev. Thomas MAGILL, DD, Former lecturer at the University of Glasgow, illustrated how the ecclesiology of communion of the Second Vatican Council clarified the relationship between local churches and the universal Church. He emphasised the values of synodality – participation, shared responsibility and the mission of all the faithful – and highlighted how recent synodal developments have strengthened collaboration and mutual listening between local churches, bishops and the Pope.
H.E. Msgr. Cyril VASIĽ, SJ, Eparch of Košice, addressed the theme “The Revision of Canon Law in Recent Pontificates: Trends and Perspectives”. He traced the evolution of Canon Law from the 1917 Code to Pope Francis’ reforms, explaining how the 1983 Code incorporated the ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council, while the 1990 Eastern Code recovered the authentic traditions of the Eastern Churches and their synodal structures. He showed that recent reforms have made Canon Law more pastoral, synodal and attentive to the needs of the faithful.
The last speaker, Dr. Alessandro CALCAGNO, Secretary of the COMECE Commission on Legal Affairs, provided an update on the “Legal Developments Concerning the Activities of Churches and Religious Denominations in Recent European Legislation”.
The participants had the opportunity to present and discuss legal issues relating to their own Bishops’ Conferences. The programme for the meeting was also enriched by moments of fellowship, culture and prayer.
