Pope Leo XIV met with the members of the Presidency of the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) at the Vatican on 23 May 2025. The meeting, which took place at the Apostolic Palace, focused on several pressing topics, including migration, environmental sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
Rather than delivering a formal address, Pope Leo XIV chose to listen attentively to the concerns and proposals of the Church in Europe. The discussion also touched on defense spending and rearmament, as well as the need to strengthen social policies and combat poverty. The Pope expressed his concern about the diversion of funds to the arms industry, which harms the most disadvantaged.
The COMECE members emphasized the need for European regulations to consider human dignity when it comes to Artificial Intelligence, with the Church’s social doctrine serving as a guide. This meeting marked the first encounter between Pope Leo XIV and representatives of the European bishops, providing an opportunity to reflect on the current state of the European integration process and discuss the role of the EU in promoting peace and integral development.
COMECE was established in 1980 with the approval of the Holy See to represent the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union before its institutions. The commission provides contributions that promote the common good and a human-centered approach to European policies. The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Mons. Mariano Crociata, president of COMECE, and Bishop Bernardito Cleopas Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union.