In response to the difficult time communities all over the world are facing due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak, H.Em. Card. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ and H.Em. Card. Angelo Bagnasco, respectively Presidents of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE), raise a common prayer to God for help, comfort and salvation.

 

In the prayer, the two Cardinals ask our Father, Creator of the world, to look upon his “children, who in this difficult time of confusion and dismay [are] seeking strength, salvation and relief” and ask all people of good will to pray God to “heal the sick, comfort their families and give wisdom to our rulers”.

 

Bishops from the EU and the entire Europe join Pope Francis in reiterating the closeness of the Church to all those struggling due to this outbreak: the victims, their families and all healthcare workers, volunteers and faithful who are in the frontline in caring for those affected and bringing them relief.

 

As recently stated by H.Em. Card. Peter Turkson, the coronavirus emergency “is a propitious time to understand the value of fraternity and of our bonds with each other in an indissoluble way”. Cardinal Hollerich and Cardinal Bagnasco invite all persons, families and communities to pray and to behave responsibly in order to avoid the spread of the virus and protect life.

 

According to recent reports of the World Health Organization, since December 2019, about 130,000 people from across 126 countries in the world resulted positive to Covid-19. More than 4,000 already died.

 

The Secretariats of COMECE and CCEE are also taking precautionary measures to ensure safety and health of their staff and partners.