The first meeting between the new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and the Commission of the Bishops\u2019 Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) took place in Rome this week, signalling the Vatican\u2019s readiness to listen to Europe\u2019s concerns.<\/p>\n
On 7 August 2025, Bishop Nuno Br\u00e1s da Silva Martins, Vice-President of COMECE and Bishop of Funchal, spoke to L\u2019Osservatore Romano following the audience. \u201cThe very fact that the Pope received us in this first week is significant,\u201d he said. \u201cWe already had an appointment with Pope Francis, but we did not expect Pope Leo XIV to take the initiative and confirm the meeting himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Bishop Martins, Pope Leo began the encounter by admitting: \u201cI do not have many answers, but I want to listen.\u201d This, the bishop said, set the tone: \u201cA Pope who listens, who is attentive, who asks questions and delves deeper.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the meeting, COMECE outlined its mission: monitoring European Union policy from its Brussels headquarters, particularly the work of the European Commission and Parliament. Four main issues were discussed \u2014 rearmament, Artificial Intelligence, migration, and baptismal records.<\/p>\n
On rearmament, Pope Leo XIV expressed concern that Europe\u2019s growing military expenditure could be \u201ctaken from social assistance,\u201d undermining care for the continent\u2019s poorest and most vulnerable. The Bishop of Funchal noted that this was not a call for naivety in defence, but a warning against sacrificing the social fabric on the altar of armaments.<\/p>\n
Turning to the digital revolution, Bishop Martins said the Holy Father deliberately chose the name Leo XIV because \u201cLeo XIII faced the industrial revolution; Leo XIV must face the digital revolution.\u201d The Pope stressed that Artificial Intelligence must never override the dignity of the human person, nor be allowed to define truth on its own terms.<\/p>\n
Migration was addressed with equal frankness. With nine million EU residents born abroad \u2014 including 4.5 million migrants \u2014 the bishops called for integration rooted in respect, not suspicion. \u201cMigrants are human beings who knock on our door,\u201d Bishop Martins said, warning against treating them as mere statistics or threats.<\/p>\n
On baptismal records, the Pope noted legal cases in which individuals seek to erase their baptism from Church archives \u2014 disputes now before EU courts. Bishop Martins stood firm: \u201cAn event is an event and cannot be cancelled,\u201d he said, defending the Church\u2019s right to preserve the historical fact of baptism regardless of later disbelief.<\/p>\n
The discussion also touched on moral legislation. On 5 August 2025, the Bishops of France had taken to the streets against euthanasia and assisted suicide. In this context, Bishop Martins warned that some in Brussels were attempting to push such laws beyond their remit: \u201cThe European Union cannot and should not impose the will of some on others. These are matters for each sovereign state.\u201d He noted that Portugal\u2019s euthanasia law remains partially unregulated due to constitutional challenges, adding, \u201cLet us leave it as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
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