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EU Bishops: "We are committed to supporting the cause of justice"

A Mass for Europe and for peace in the world, in particular in Ukraine and in the Holy Land, where the war is causing incalculable losses of human life, especially civilians, children, women and the elderly. The bishop delegates of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union - gathered in Brussels for the autumn plenary assembly of Comece - met in the Church of Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon in the heart of Europe. “We believe that God guides the fate of history – said Mgr. in his homily. Mariano Crociata, president of Comece, but we are equally convinced that He does so by asking us to be willing to act, letting ourselves be guided by the light of his wisdom and his love for him" 

The plenary assembly opened by taking stock of the hottest situations in Europe and the Middle East and the impact they are having on European societies. Just under two years have passed since the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the war, unfortunately, still offers no prospects. Added to this on 7 October was the terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, which was followed by a conflict that is putting the balance of the entire region at risk. The bishops will have the opportunity to dialogue during these three days of work with Major Archbishop Schevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and to listen to the testimony of Patriarch Pizzaballa. “It will be an opportunity – explains Crociata – to express our full solidarity with the suffering of their faithful, but also to reiterate our rejection of terrorism as a method of political struggle, our condemnation of every form of transgression of international law and of respect for borders and the dignity and intangibility of every nation". But the bishops are especially concerned about "the victims of violence, particularly civilians, children, women, the elderly, due to the upheaval of the lives of many families, due to the immense suffering of the wounded and displaced". “As far as we can – assure the EU bishops – we are committed to supporting the cause of justice and the rights of individuals and local and national communities”.

On the first day of plenary, the vice-president of the European Parliament Othmar Karas also spoke, having an all-out discussion with the bishops also on international geopolitical issues, the crisis in the Holy Land and the repercussions it is having in Europe in terms of tensions and polarizations. In this regard, in his opening speech Msgr. Crociata gave voice to the concerns of the EU bishops. He spoke of the security problem that "periodically arises in our countries, with disturbing episodes of terrorism"; but also of the "regurgitations of anti-Semitism that recur especially in these circumstances, as well as the polarization towards one or another cause that the street demonstrations denounce, losing sight of the complexity of the situations and the consideration of the suffering of all those who suffer it and not just some of them." “Also for this reason – continued the Comece president – ​​we cannot remain insensitive to the meaning and effects of the positions that the EU takes on conflicts, together with many other situations that unfold before our eyes”.

At the center of the debate, there are also the European elections which will be held next year in the 27 member countries of the European Union from 6 to 9 June. “This is a time in which the great challenges that loom – said Crociata – can become an opportunity for the European Union to emerge with a stronger and more effective unity in relation to today's expectations. But unfortunately the signs don't seem to be going in that direction." The balance to date is not positive. “We expect more from the EU – the Comece president bitterly notes – than we have had to see in recent times. In this sense we are already warning that a crucial deadline is represented by next year's elections". European citizens deserve a Parliament "renewed and regenerated also from an ethical point of view, after the events that have tarnished its image. We feel the responsibility to make people feel how important it is to participate and to make our brother bishops and our faithful feel it. Beyond the contents, which are certainly important, I believe that few like us - I mean bishops and Churches - have the possibility of promoting the general interest for a Europe that is united not for the advantage of someone or a part, but for the common good of all our peoples and countries." (agensir)