“While COVID-19 remains a clear and present danger, climate change is no less of a pressing crisis”, religious warn in letters to UK, EU and African Union
In major joint message. EU prelates urge policymakers “to build up a different model of economy and society” in wake of pandemic
Church relief group – along with over 30 Church and civil society organisations, 42 academics and 45 members of the European Parliament – calls on European Commission to establish legally-binding minimum income scheme
Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant representatives and politicians lament in webinar that 11 million Syrians need help, with 80% of people there living below the poverty line
Victims’ only crime was that “of dreaming”, denounces superior general Sister Neusa de Fatima Mariano as Vatican paper ‘L’Osservatore Romano’ deplores “endless” migrant “massacre”
In OSCE meeting, Vatican permanent representative laments “profound ramifications” of coronavirus lockdown measures on religious freedom
Quoting Pope Francis, President of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue insists fundamentalism “not due to religion, but to misinterpretations of religious texts”
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich warns on publication of blasphemous cartoons: “There cannot be absolute freedom… freedom of expression must take into account others’ views”
“We cannot allow economics to be separated from human realities, nor development from civilisation”, Holy See insists in Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin urges EU Church “not to remain on the sidelines” in social reconstruction post-COVID-19
EU Bishops’ president says Europe “called to build a future for the whole world”, deplores migrant pushbacks on Greece’s external borders: “Surely policies must change”
On gender equality, “numbers alone are not enough”: insists Vatican representative to OSCE Monsignor Janusz Urbańczyk
Ecumenical delegation urges German Presidency of EU Council to solidarity, speed in recovery plan: “A delay would negatively affect the most vulnerable members of our societies”
“Europe, find yourself! Rediscover your most deeply-rooted ideals. Be yourself!”, Francis writes in letter to “weary and listless” continent “possessed of little hope”
COMECE Working Group on Ethics calls on EU, member states to ensure “affordability, sustainability and security” of medical and pharmaceutical supplies
Urges member states of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to implement Pope Francis’ integral ecology, “an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded and protecting nature”
“This new encyclical is a call for a new way of living human relations: not only on paper, not only by words, but with our daily actions”, says COMECE secretary general Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto
Dr. Margarita Starkeviciute says she agrees with pontiff “that it is necessary to pay more attention to social factors” in markets
The Archbishop of Luxembourg and president of the EU Bishops warns nationalistic responses to COVID have “the explosive power to smash the EU”
“This situation is only possible coming from a cultural mindset of white people believing that they are the center of the universe and can do whatever they please, at any cost, disregarding all international law”
Vatican OSCE representative warns COVID-19 transforming trade in people into an “ever-growing internet business”
The Old Continent again records the global Church’s largest fall in number of priests, major seminarians and women religious
“It is a violation of human rights to force people to be in a concentration camp”, denounces Marie Doutrepont, who has witnessed first-hand the “shame of Europe” on Lesbos
Church leaders from across the island of Ireland have appealed to the UK and the European Union to “act with urgency and generosity to end the economic and social uncertainty” over Brexit and to secure the best foundations for their evolving relationship.
“Let’s welcome migrants with humanity, fraternity and solidarity. Let’s give them a place at our table”, said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, President of COMECE, on the eve of the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated on Sunday 27 September 2020.
German Catholic Workers have thrown their support behind a Europe-wide push for an unconditional basic income.
Pope Francis has sent a message to the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) on the occasion of their plenary assembly, taking place online from 25 to 26 September.
Caritas Europa has voiced disappointment in the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration unveiled Wednesday at European Union headquarters in Brussels.
The Holy See has warned that law enforcement and security measures alone are not enough to combat radicalisation and terrorism.