CEC and CCEE express solidarity with Ukraine and the Holy Land

Members of the Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) met in Frankfurt am Main and Darmstadt, Germany, from 9 to 11 September 2026.

The meeting focused on the reception of the revised Charta Oecumenica, synodality and the next steps in ecumenical cooperation. At its conclusion, the participants issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with persecuted Christians, people suffering from violence, and calling for peace, justice and reconciliation.

CEC President H.E. Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain and CCEE President H.E. Msgr. Gintaras Grušas, Archbishop of Vilnius, led the meeting and its discussions.

A central theme was the revised Charta Oecumenica, jointly signed by the two presidents in Rome on 5 November 2025. Participants reflected on how the document is being received across Europe and how its commitments can be put into practice through prayer, dialogue, formation and practical cooperation.

Archbishop Nikitas said that the revised Charta Oecumenica calls the churches to deepen their commitment to Christian unity and translate it into meaningful cooperation. “Our…