EUROPEAN EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE
Ecumenism and dialogue for Christian unity

Ecumenism and dialogue for Christian unity are the primary objectives which the European Episcopal Conference is intending to promote in view of preparations for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. Following the Symposium of the European bishops entitled: «Religion. Private issue and Public reality», held in Rome in '96 and the second European ecumenical assembly held in Graz in June last year, during 1998 and 1999 initiatives will be mainly dedicated to the internal communion of the Church and to relations with culture and modern European society. In this context in 1998 there should be a congress dedicated to the theme of media as well as two others on the themes of migrations and sects. In 1999, the theme of dialogue with the Abrahamic religions and other religious traditions will be highlighted. Other collegial meetings at various levels are envisaged to make concrete the ideas which emerged in relation to the preparation for the Jubilee. But two main dimensions appear to be of particular importance for European bishops. In the first place, as already mentioned, the ecumenical dimension to be attributed to the jubilee event and, in the second place, the possibility that the itinerary towards the year 2000 be a step forward for the inculturation of the Gospel in modern European culture.