Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has been invited by Mr José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, to take part in a meeting of twenty leaders of different Churches and faiths groups at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels on Monday next ( 11th May.)
This gathering is the fifth in a series of annual high-level meetings between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the President of the European Council within the framework outlined in the Draft Lisbon Treaty on structured dialogue between the Commission and Churches.
The theme of the meeting is on the ethical contribution to the current economic and financial crisis and the challenges facing Europe and the World.
Among other leaders invited are the Chief Rabbi of France, the President of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe, The Exarchal Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Churches and the President of the Council of Evangelical Churches in Europe. Other Catholic representatives are the Cardinal Archbishop of Prague, the Archbishop of Munich and the President of the Commission of Bishops of the countries of the European Union.
The meeting, which will begin at 11.00, will be followed by a press Conference at 15.00, which will be attended by President Barroso and the President of the European Parliament, Hans–Gert Pöttering. ENDS
