June 2004″ “

We present the main events involving thee Catholic Church and the other European Christian Churches in June. 1 5th Day of Reflection promoted by the Pontifical Council of Culture, the Istituto Cervantes in Rome and the Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana, with the title “C atholicism and Literature in the Spanish-speaking countries in the 20th century”, in Rome. General Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) (1-17), at Geneva. 3 6th Consultation of the Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE) (3-6), dedicated to the safeguard of the creation, on “The responsibility of the churches and religions for the creation”, at Namur (Belgium) – Second International and Interdisciplinary Colloquium “Science and Faith” (3-6), on “Ethical responsibility in a changing world”, promoted by the Pontifical Council of Culture together with the Slovene Academy of Arts and Sciences, at Ljubljana.5Apostolic Journey of John Paul II to Berne (5-6), on the occasion of the national Meeting of the Catholic Youth of Switzerland. It’s the Pope’s 103rd international pilgrimage and his third visit to Switzerland – Commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the allied landings in Normandy, on 6 June 1944 – Award of the “2004 North-South” Prize, at Lucerne, promoted by the Missionaries of Bethlehem Immensee and the RomeroHaus.7Visit of a Delegation of the Serbian Patriarchate to Italy and the Vatican (7-12), on the occasion of the signing, at Assisi, of a Convention for the exchange of teaching staff and students between the Theological Faculty of Belgrade and the Pontifical Lateran University – International Conference on the future of humanitarian aid (7-8), to the over four million Palestinian refugees, promoted by the Swiss government and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), in Geneva. 8 Summit of the G-8 (8-10 June), at Sea Island (USA).10 Meeting of the general secretaries of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe (10-14), in Belgrade – First election for the European Parliament of the 25-member Europe (10-13).11European elections in the Czech Republic and in Ireland. Constitutional referendum in Ireland, on the nationality of children born to foreign parents in the country. 12Liturgy of reunification between the three Protestant Churches of the Netherlands: the Dutch Reformed Church, the Reformed Church in the Netherlands and the Evangelic Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, at Utrecht.13 European elections in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden – Presidential elections, in Serbia – Presidential elections, in Lithuania – Parliamentary elections, in Luxembourg.15 Meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (15-17), in Madrid – 5th German Katholikentag (16-20), at Ulm, in the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, on “Living by the power of God”. 10th World Day for the campaign against drought and desertification, on the theme “The social dimensions of desertification: migration and poverty”.21264th Ordinary Assembly of the Conference of Swiss Bishops (21-23), at the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln. 24 Conference promoted by the World Political Forum of Turin (24-26), on the theme “United Europe in response to a changing world”, in Munich.27CCEE Meeting of spokespersons and press officers of the European Episcopal Conferences (24-27), at Athens. 30Deadline for the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq to an interim Iraqi government designated by the UNO, pending national elections to be held by January 2005. End of the six-month Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union.