EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - European Bishops: after the pandemic let’s work all together for a recovery that leaves no one behind

St. Gallen (Agenzia Fides) - The annual meeting of the presidencies of CCEE (Council of European Bishops’ Conferences) and of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union) was held on 3 June 2020 in video conference with a special focus on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the day-to-day life in the Church and European societies. The virtual meeting was attended by Card. Angelo Bagnasco (CCEE President), Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich (COMECE President), as well as by all the members of the two Presidencies.
The final statement, sent to Agenzia Fides, reads that "renewing the Catholic Church’s closeness to all those struggling against the pandemic – the victims, their families and all health workers, volunteers and the faithful who have been and are in the front line, caring for those affected and bringing them relief - the Bishops the prelates espressed their concern about the economic crisis and the consequent loss of a large number of jobs” and the hope that, in Europe, we will all work together for a recovery that leaves no one behind".
In this time of crisis, the two Presidencies stressed the central role played by the family, "the true cell of solidarity and sharing, but also a place to pray together. Investing in the family - they continue - is the first step towards a just, social, economic and ecclesial recovery ". They therefore thank "the many priests for their crucial and generous service during this period", and analysed the role played by social media in prayer and streaming celebrations. "These new forms of religious practice, relationships, presence and sharing of faith invite us not only to evaluate the possibility of giving a new meaning to faith and the Church, but also to work to make many faithful rediscover the element of full sacramentality of religious celebrations in places of worship, which the use of new technologies cannot ensure". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 5/6/2020)

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