Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Leeds - (Fides Service) - The Presidents of the 34 Episcopal Conferences that make up the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) are to meet in Leeds, England, at the invitation of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, from tomorrow 30 September - 3 October. The first day of the meeting will be dedicated to discussions about the role of Christianity and the Church in present-day Europe: What is the state of health of Christianity in Europe? What is the relationship between Christian identity and the meeting between religions? How can Christianity contribute to defusing violent fundamentalism and terrorism? Another theme on the agenda is the relationship between the Churches and the European institutions, following the approval of the Constitutional Treaty and the debate on the reference to God or the Christian roots of Europe. In particular, time will be spent discussing current themes from the European agenda which impact particularly on the Churches, as well as examining the most urgent ethical questions of the day.
The second part of the meeting will focus on forthcoming events common to the Bishops’ Conferences, such as World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, and future work of the CCEE with regard to evangelisation and pastoral care: the means of social communications, human mobility, environmental matters, working with other religions, etc. The Plenary Assembly will conclude with the solemn celebration of Mass in Leeds Cathedral on Sunday 3 October 2004. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2004 - Righe 18; Parole 218)
