Since Ash Wednesday, and throughout Lent, the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of our continent invite us to pray for the victims of the pandemic and for the end of this pandemic, which has been affecting the entire world territory for more than a year.
More than 770,000 people have died in Europe because of Covid-19 since last year. A terrifying figure that should lead Christians to "remember at Holy Mass, the victims, the many victims of the pandemic" as Cardinal Bagnasco stated in his message to launch this initiative.
United in prayer, every Bishops' Conference in Europe has committed itself to organize at least one Mass, creating, he said, "a Mass that will be celebrated at the end of the year. Cardinal BagnascWe would like to pray, "a chain of prayer, a Eucharistic chain in memory and in suffrage for many people. In this prayer we also want to remember the families who have suffered bereavement and all those who are still affected by the disease at this time and have doubts about his life".
The initiative, which will involve all the Bishops' Conferences of Europe according to the calendar below, aims to offer a sign of communion and hope for the entire continent. The initiative joins the other occasions, in which bishops from all over Europe have joined their voices to that of Pope Francis to reiterate the Church's closeness to all those struggling with the coronavirus: the victims and their families, the sick and health care workers, the volunteers and all those who are on the front line at this time.
Episcopal Conference | Date |
Albania | 17 February |
Austria | 17 February |
Belgium | 18 February |
Belarus | 19 February |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 20 February |
Bulgaria | 22 February |
Spain | February 23rd |
Croatia | 24 February |
Slovakia | 25 February |
France | 26 February |
Germany | 27 February |
Scotland | March 1 |
England and Wales | 2 March |
Ireland | 3 March |
Italy | 4 March |
Latvia | 5 March |
Lithuania | 6 March |
Luxembourg | 8 March |
Malta | 9 March |
Moldova | 10 March |
Monaco | 11 March |
Netherlands | 13 March |
Poland | March 15 |
Portugal | 16 March |
Czech Republic | 17 March |
Romania | March 18 |
Russia | March 19 |
Ukraine (Greek Catholic) | 20 March |
Greece | March 22nd |
Estonia | March 23rd |
Slovenia | March 24 |
Cyprus | March 25 |
St. Cyril and St. Methodius | March 26 |
Mukachevo | March 27 |
Switzerland | 29 March |
Turkey | 30 March |
Ukraine (Latin) | March 31 |
Hungary | April 1 |
CCEE Secretariat | April 1 |
Episcopal Conference | Date |