Press releases

MINSK, 10 October (BelTA) – A plenary session of the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe will take place in Minsk from 28 September to 1 October 2017. The results of the vote were announced during the meeting of the Council in Monaco, BelTA learnt from the website of the Roman-Catholic Church of Belarus.

Minsk will welcome more than 40 cardinals and bishops from Europe and the Vatican.

Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev of the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz called it a sign of deep respect, honor and prestige for the church in Belarus and the country in general and also called for praying about the successful preparation for and the organization of such an important event.

The Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences was set up in 1965, when thirteen Presidents of European Bishops’ Conferences decided to found a committee aimed at 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 meeting.

Minsk will become the hosting venue for the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences for the second time. On 14-16 June 2007 Minsk played host to the 35^th meeting of General Secretaries of the European Bishops’ Conferences to discuss the theme Migration: A Challenge for Europe.