The General Secretaries of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union gathered in Brussels on Monday to reaffirm and strengthen COMECE’s mission of dialogue with EU institutions. The meeting focused on ensuring the Catholic Church continues to play an active role in Europe’s integration process and policymaking.
Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including the situation in the Mediterranean, religious education in public schools, EU data protection, and the Church’s autonomy in managing its internal affairs. The participants also exchanged updates on efforts to combat sexual abuse and support victims.
Security challenges related to the war in Ukraine and the role of the Church in emergency situations were also addressed, along with concerns about increasing secularism in EU Member States.
The group met with Klaus Welle, former Secretary General of the European Parliament and current Chairman of the Academic Council at the Wilfried Martens Centre, for a discussion on the EU’s current political and institutional dynamics.
COMECE President H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata chaired the meeting and encouraged continued support for COMECE’s work amid the growing complexity of EU legislative processes. A similar appeal was recently made by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who urged national episcopal conferences to contribute actively and generously to the Church’s presence in Brussels.
The next meeting of the General Secretaries is scheduled for the first half of 2026 at the COMECE Secretariat in Brussels.
