A meeting of the General Secretaries of the EU Bishops’ Conferences was held in Brussels

https://episkopat.pl/doc/228065.W-Brukseli-odbylo-sie-spotkanie-sekretarzy-generalnych

The meeting dealt, among other things, with issues related to current trends in EU politics and the place of the Church in the European public debate.

The special guest at the meeting was Professor Klaus Welle, a German politician who was, among other things, Head of Cabinet to the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering and, from 2009 to 2022, Secretary General of the European Parliament. In his speech, he addressed, among other issues, the current political alliances in the European Union, the Union's relations with the United States and the security of our continent. The meeting was also attended by Bishop Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, who pointed out the need for the Church in various European countries to be involved in the debate on these topics being discussed in the European Union.

The meeting also presented the main current areas of COMECE's work and its impact on the political and social dialogue taking place in the EU institutions. Among the key topics are ethical issues, including ethics in the digital space, matters of personal data protection legislation, the war in Ukraine and European security, the promotion of human rights, migration, the persecution of Christians in the world or sustainable economic development.

The general secretaries also shared the most important topics that the various Bishops’ Conferences are currently undertaking. These dealt with issues that are related to the current social, political and ecclesial situation in their respective countries.

Prior to the start of the meeting, in the COMECE chapel in Brussels, the participants celebrated the Eucharist presided over by Bishop Mariano Crociata, praying for the late Pope Francis and for Europe.

At the meeting, the Polish Bishops‘ Conference was represented by Bishop Marek Marczak, Secretary General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, and Fr Leszek Gęsiak SJ, Spokesman of the Polish Bishops' Conference. The meeting is held annually and provides a spectrum for the exchange of ideas and experiences of local Churches in the countries of the European Union.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference