The European Conference of Justice and Peace Commissions held its annual general assembly on Monday 1 October in the magnificent setting of Manresa (Spain), where Saint Ignatius took inspiration for drafting the Spiritual Exercises.
In the course of their assembly delegates elected Bishop Noël Treanor as the new president of the network. Dr Treanor is Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland). He is member of the Commission for Social Issues and International Affairs of the Irish Bishops’ conference and Vice-president of COMECE. He replaces Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxemburg, who was elected president of COMECE last March.
In another election Daniel Darman, president of the Maltese Justice and Peace Commission, was elected member of the Executive Committee.
On the weekend prior to the general assembly delegates of twenty national commissions had attended an International Workshop on «Water: Source of Life». The general assembly adopted a declaration in relation to the right to water.
Delegates also debated and voted for a 4 year plan, which is inspired by the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ of Pope Francis. Furthermore, they agreed on the terms for a strategic partnership with the Global Catholic Movement. During the one-day assembly they also received reports from the national commissions, the delegate of Justice and Peace Europe to the Council of Europe and the representative of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.