A Maltese delegation from the episcopal conference will be participating in a European congress in Rome at the weekend, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

The congress will be held over the coming weekend and it is being organised by the EU’s commission for episcopal conferences (COMECE) under the theme “Values and perspectives for Europe”.

The Maltese delegation will be led by Archbishop Paul Cremona OP, who also holds the post of president of the Maltese episcopal conference.

The delegation includes Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, Fr Vanni Xuereb, president of the commission The Church in Malta and Europe, Anna Vella, president of the Cana Movement, and Mariella Chetcuti from the Diocesan Youth Commission (KDZ).

A report prepared by a committee of experts, including Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott, will be presented during the congress, during which the “Message of Rome” will also be discussed and adopted.

The message will be presented to Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who will in turn pass it on to EU leaders at the informal summit in Berlin at the same weekend, when heads of government and state are expected to issue the “Berlin Declaration”, which should serve as a new impetus for the EU’s integration process.

During the congress, participants will have the opportunity to pray together.

They will visit the burial place of Alcide de Gasperi, one of the EU’s founders with Catholic inspiration and they will have an audience with Pope Benedict XVI, following which they will participate in a Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, presided by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of state of the Holy See.

Accompanied by Mgr Grech, Archbishop Cremona will participate in COMECE’s plenary session before the congress.

The Maltese episcopal conference has participated in COMECE meetings since 2001, when then Archbishop Joseph Mercieca attended one of the commission’s plenary sessions and the episcopal conference became a full member of COMECE when Malta became an EU member.

The Maltese episcopal conference is also represented on COMECE’s commission for legal affairs and the migration commission.