Consiglio Episcopale Permanente meets in Rome

The Permanent Council of the Italian Episcopal Conference met in Rome from September 21 to 23 to discuss ways to transmit faith in a modern context. Led by President Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the bishops addressed an invitation from Pope Leo XIV for Church communities to be more free to announce Christ.

The council emphasized the importance of critical thinking to help believers engage with cultural changes. The bishops noted that faith can no longer be assumed as a given, even for those active in parishes. To address this, the council suggested focusing on adult formation, the role of schools in protecting the capacity to think, and the revision of Church structures.

The final communiqué also highlighted the role of the laity in bringing Christian thought into public spaces where collective decisions are made. This discussion included reflections on the 50th anniversary of the ecclesial conference on evangelization and human promotion, referencing the contributions of Monsignor Enrico Bartoletti.