Brief papal message to European bishops

September 14, 2015

Pope Francis has sent a brief message to the participants in the annual meeting of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), which is taking place in the Holy Land from September 11 to 16.

“As you reflect on the life of the Church in your various countries, I pray that your time together may be above all a time of deep prayer and solidarity,” the Pope said in his message, which was released on September 11. “May your rest in the Lord renew you in holiness of life and in apostolic zeal for those entrusted to your care. May it also rekindle for you the freshness of the Gospel, from which new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today's world.”

“I especially entrust to your prayers the upcoming General Synod, that the Church may respond with ever greater urgency and generosity to the needs of the family,” he added.

 

 

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Further information:

• Messaggio del Santo Padre alla Presidenza delle Conferenze Episcopali d’Europa riunite in Assemblea Plenaria in Terra Santa (11-16 settembre 2015) (Holy See Press Office)
• European bishops meet in Holy Land (CWN, 9/11)