Thursday, May 15, 2018, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel received in audience the President of the Conference of European Churches, Bishop Christopher Hill, the CEC Vice-president, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, and the CEC General Secretary, Rev. Heikki Huttunen.
A short assessment of the collaboration between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Conference of European Churches was made during the meeting.
The Patriarch of Romania stressed the active involvement of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the activities of the Conference of European Churches through the Romanian Patriarchate’s representatives who attended the events organized by CEC.
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel also recalled the good collaboration between the Romanian Patriarchate’s Representation to the European Institutions in Brussels with the Conference of European Churches in the dialogue between European Institutions and the Churches in the European Union.
Patriarch Daniel noted the good ecumenical relations with other Christian communities that have supported the Romanian Orthodox communities in the diaspora at parish level by providing them with numerous places of worship.
In this context, the participants addressed aspects regarding the migration phenomenon present in Europe either in the context of the refugee crisis or in the European labour market. In the case of Romanian citizens working in other European countries, the Church provides through its specific means the necessary pastoral assistance in the diaspora parishes and dioceses.
Furthermore, the needs of the Roma communities in Romania and Europe were discussed. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel recalled the various programs carried out by the Romanian Patriarchate, social programs and school dropout prevention programs, especially the ‘Choose School!’ project.
Bishop Christopher Hill thanked for being received and stressed the good collaboration and the contribution of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the Conference of European Churches.
At the same time, the CEC President appreciated the activity of the Romanian Church as an example of good practice for the other Churches given the pressing social issues facing Europe today: fragmentation and identity alienation, the need for meaning and communion.
At the end of the meeting, Bishop Christopher Hill expressed his willingness to continue the cooperation with the Romanian Orthodox Church in order to intensify Christian witness, social justice and hospitality, the main themes of the forthcoming Assembly of the Conference of European Churches.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
Tr by Basilica.ro