The CCEE Symposium on accompanying the young begins today in Barcelona

Nearly 200 participants, including bishops and pastoral directors of the European Episcopal Conferences, will be meeting from today until 31 March in Barcelona to reflect together on the accompaniment of young people. "He walked by their side (Lk 24:15) - Accompanying young people to freely respond to Christ's call" is the title of the Symposium organized by the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) in collaboration with the Spanish Bishops' Conference and the Archdiocese of Barcelona. The meeting, said the promoters, is "an opportunity to reflect together on the way we can accompany the youth, in their unity as complete persons and in their journey of faith."

During this European symposium, which is an important stage on the path that will lead the Church to the celebration of the Synod on youth and vocations, in October 2018, the participants will discuss the preparatory document "Young People, Faith, and Vocation Discernment," while waiting for the diffusion of the questionnaire of the Synod of Bishops addressed to young people around the world.

The participants will be greeted by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster (Vice-President CCEE) and Msgr. Juan José Ornella Ornella, Archbishop of Barcelona. Among the speakers will be Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa and President of the CCEE, and Msgr. Marek Jedraszewski, Archbishop of Krakow, President of the CCEE Commission for Catechesis, School, and University. Precisely in view of the Synod of 2018, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, will animate a moment of sharing with the pastoral agents. The participants will also have the opportunity to listen to the reflections and testimonies of several national directors and young people.