Malta to host meeting of media officers and spokespersons of European bishops

Following an invitation from Maltese bishops, the annual meeting for media officials and spokespersons of the European Episcopal Conferences will be held in Malta in June 2019. This was announced at the conclusion of a meeting held in Rome a few days ago, hosted by CEI (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana). Mr Kevin Papagiorcopolo, the Archbishop’s Delegate for Media, attended this conference on behalf of the Maltese bishops.

The primary theme of the Rome conference centred on how the Church in Europe should communicate the invitation of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the joy of the Gospel in a digital world, in a particular way to young people on social media. This theme was chosen in view of the Bishops’ Synod on young people, called by Pope Francis, that will be held at the Vatican next October.

At the conference, the delegates met with Pope Francis at the end of his weekly General Audience, with the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, and with the members of the new Dicastery for Communications of the Holy See. The conference was led by His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE).

On behalf of the Maltese bishops, Mr Kevin Papagiorcopolo conveyed his satisfaction that Malta will be hosting the conference for media officials and spokespersons for European bishops next year. He augured that this would be an opportunity for a serious discussion about the ways in which the Church should communicate with conviction and determination on themes related to the protection of human life at every stage, in every country, including the European frontiers. The conference will be held in Malta between the 17^th and 19^th June 2019.