Cardinal Parolin and Vice President Schinas to participate in upcoming EU Bishops Assembly
The Delegates of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union will gather in Brussels on 28-29October 2020 for the COMECE Autumn Assembly. The progamme will feature the participation of H.Em. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, and of Mr Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission.
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary since the establishment of COMECE, H. Em. Cardinal Pietro Parolin will join the EU bishops at their Autumn Assembly, to be held in Brussels on 28-29 October 2020.
Together with the Secretary of State, the Bishop Delegates of COMECE will exchange on the role of the Catholic Church in the European Union, especially in the context of the current Covid-19 pandemic. Bishops will discuss possible initiatives to support the EU in recovering from the pandemic through ecological, social and contributive justice, enhancing the protection of the poor and of the most vulnerable.
During his visit, Cardinal Parolin will meet with various high-level representatives of the EU institutions, so as to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the European institutions.
The EU bishops will also welcome at the COMECE premises Mr Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission, to exchange on the implementation of Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which foresees an open, transparent and regular dialogue between Churches and the EU institutions.
In the context of the New European Pact on Migration and Asylum adopted on 23 September 2020, the Bishops and Mr Schinas will also engage in a dialogue on EU migration policy, particularly on the need to reinforce the common EU asylum policy and to ground it on the principles of solidarity and dignity of each human person. More generally, views on the Commissions’ approach to the promotion of a “European Way of Life” will be lively debated.
On Wednesday, 28 October 2020 at 19:00 a Mass for Europe will be celebrated.. The Holy Mass will be presided by H.Em. Card. Parolin and concelebrated by all the Bishops representing the EU Episcopates.
The settings of the Assembly and of the Mass for Europe will ensure strict respect of Covid-19 measures, limiting the number of persons present in the same venue and allowing bishops who are unable to travel to join the Assembly by video conference.
The COMECE Assembly is a closed-doors event. Due to the limited space inside our premises and to the need to implement effective sanitary measures, the programme will not include a press conference. Journalists and media operators interested in covering the event are invited to contact the COMECE Communication Officer.
COMECE Communication Officer
Alessandro Di Maio
+32 (0) 2 235 05 15