” “For the first time in history, the presidents of the Catholic Bishops Conferences of Europe (Ccee) will meet in Russia, from 4th to 8th October, in Saint Petersburg, on the invitation of mgr. Joseph Werth, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Russian Federation. The meeting intends to be an expression of esteem and communion for the country and all the Christians who live in this land. On the occasion of the Plenary Assembly, the presidents of the 34 Bishops Conferences of Europe that are members of Ccee will elect the new president for the five years 2006-2011. On that date, they will also elect the bishops that will preside the Ccee commissions for the media, the pastoral of migration, for catechesis, school and university, and for vocations. The main topic of the Plenary Assembly will be a reflection on the service of the Ccee, which turns 35 in 2006, and its future evangelisation work. The schedule includes speeches by a delegate of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow and the Catholic Bishop of Moscow, mgr. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, about the state of religion and the Church in Russia. Other items on the agenda: the vocational pastoral in Europe; marriage and family; the Church in Europe. At the end, the bishops will be informed of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (4-9 September 2007).” “
