Press releases

MINSK, 25 September (BelTA) – The head of the episcopal conferences from 45 countries will arrive in Minsk to take part in the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE). During the assembly some bishops will attend services in Minsk churches, BelTA learned from the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus.

Thus, Sts Simeon and Helena Church (Red Church) will host a service at 19.00 on 28 September. The service will be held by Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

The Mass is scheduled for 18.30 on 29 September at the Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary. The service will be run by Archbishop Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz.

The service at the Church of Holy Trinity at 19.00 on 30 September will be held by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the Archbishop of Genoa and the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference

It is planned that on 1 October the bishops will visit some of Minsk churches to lead the services and meet with the church-goers.

The Plenary Assembly will be held in Minsk from 28 September to 1 October and will be dedicated to young people and the future of the continent as a common home. This decision was taken during the forum of the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences last year which took place in the Principality of Monaco.

The final document of the Plenary Assembly in Minsk will be announced on 30 September.

The Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) was set up in 1965 when thirteen Presidents of the National Dioceses in Rome decided to found a committee with a view of developing opportunities for closer cooperation at the level of local bishops. The foundation meeting for the Council was held in Rome on 23-24 March 1971. The Council comprises 39 members – European Bishops' Conferences - and a number of other hierarchical structures. The annual plenary assembly names the place for the next plenary assembly.