The General Secretary of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), the Madrid-born priest Manuel Barrios, considers it “very likely” that Pope Leo XIV will soon visit the European Parliament.
In an interview granted to Religión Confidencial, Barrios, re-elected for a second term at the helm of this body that brings together the bishops’ conferences of the EU, reviews the role of the Church in European institutions and the main challenges of the current moment.
A bridge between the bishops and the European Union
COMECE has been acting since 1980 as a link between the bishops of member countries and community institutions, with the aim of promoting the common good and a vision centered on the dignity of the person in European policies.
General Secretary since 2019, Barrios maintains that the Church’s presence in Brussels has been “clear” and at times “prophetic” in the major debates of recent years, marked by crises such as the pandemic, Brexit, inflation, the migration crisis, and armed conflicts in Europe and the Holy Land.
In this context, he highlights the collaboration with the various nuncios to the EU, including the current pontifical representative, Monsignor Bernardito Auza. As he explains, the relationship between the Nunciature and COMECE is close and is expressly provided for in the organization’s statutes.
Concern over the advancement of policies contrary to life
One of the points that generates the most concern in COMECE is the majority support of the European Parliament for the inclusion of abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Union.
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Barrios acknowledges that there is currently a majority favorable to abortion in the Eurochamber and regrets the internal division of the European People’s Party on this matter. From COMECE, the inconsistency has been publicly pointed out that, in the opinion of the body, it represents for a party that recognizes itself as heir to the Christian-democratic tradition to vote on issues considered non-negotiable for the Church in a direction contrary to that tradition.
The general secretary also warns of the existence of pressure groups opposed to the Church and interpretations of secularism that seek to exclude the religious dimension from the public space, in a context that he describes as one of intense secularization.
Challenges for 2026 and relationship with Pope Leo XIV
Looking ahead to 2026, Barrios points out as priorities the new multiannual financial framework of the EU, the Pact on Migration and Asylum, labor policies, support for Ukraine, and the debate on increasing defense spending, as well as the promotion of international law and multilateralism.
The COMECE leadership was received in audience by Pope Leo XIV on May 23, a few days after the start of his pontificate. According to Barrios, the Pontiff showed interest in the work carried out in Brussels and offered guidance centered especially on evangelization and youth pastoral care.
In this context, the general secretary considers a future visit by the Pope to the European Parliament likely, in continuity with Pope Francis’s intervention in 2014, at a moment that he qualifies as a “crisis” for the Union but also as an opportunity for its renewal.