Strasbourg, 17 December 2024
Today members of the European Parliament and co-chairs of the intercultural and religious dialogue Željana Zovko and Vangelis Meimarakis organised a prayer and discussion in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
This moment gathered members of European Parliament as well as Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary General of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), Rev. Frank Dieter Fischbach, General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and Rev. George Valcu, General Secretary of the Committee of the Representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Union (CROCEU).
This moment of gathering was an opportunity to pray and have an insightful discussion on the necessary religious dialogue in these times of geopolitical turbulences and threats to religious minorities.
Zovko pointed out her continous fight to ensure Christians’ rights wherever they are, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She highlighted that unfortunately the protection of Christians is taboo in Europe. Moreover, she stressed the essential need to guarantee the protection of Christians in the Middle East given the rising instability in the region.
Member of the Hellenic Parliament Maximos Charakopoulos emphasised the crucial protection of Christians and said our thoughts currently go to Christians in Syria. He added the Christian Europe has to take responsibilities to protect Christians in the world. He pointed out the current uncertainty and fears for Christians in the Middle East.