On Monday 25th May 2026, Pope Leo XIV received the members of the Demography Intergroup of the European Parliament at the Vatican. The European Commissioner for the Mediterranean and Demography, Mrs. Dubravka Šuica (Croatia); the Italian Minister for Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities Mrs. Eugenia Roccella; and the OSCE Special Representative on Demographic Change and Security, Mrs. Gudrun Kugler (Austria) and the President of FAFCE, Vincenzo Bassi, were also present at the audience.

The Pope welcomed the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) saying to them “Your focus on the Continent’s demographic question is certainly timely, for this issue signifies an urgent challenge with practical implications for millions of people and their families across what is becoming the ‘old continent’“, in a particular insight about one of the most crucial long-term challenge faced by Europe.

You may find the full speech of Pope Leo XIV on the Holy See’s website.

This audience was organised the day after the Solemnity of Pentecost and was preceded by a Holy Mass presided by Bishop Mariano Crociata, president of COMECE, in the Choir Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Meeting the members of the Demography Intergroup of the European Parliament in the Clementine Hall, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV took a moment to acknowledge the role of FAFCE in advocating for Europe’s future, saying :  “I would note that the Intergroup’s cooperation with the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) and with the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) offers an excellent example of how different entities — each with its own area of competence — can work together to secure effective change that will enhance the quality of life for all.“ The pope continued by adding that “This is the impetus Christians are bringing to the European project, so that policies look to human persons in their entirety and always promote the dignity of human beings.”

The Demography Intergroup of the European Parliament was founded in 1999 and had a very fruitful cooperation with FAFCE since its origin. Most recently, FAFCE President Vincenzo Bassi was the first speaker for the 10th legislative term.

The words of encouragement of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV are a strong message of enhancing this dialogue between elected Members of the European Parliament and civil society organisations.

Later on, the participants took part in the Conference on the family and demographics. The President of FAFCE, Mr. Vincenzo Bassi was invited as a guest speaker and spoke about the importance of family networks as an antidote to “the pandemic of loneliness”, highlighted by Pope Leo as one of “the problems resulting from zero-growth demographics“. Vincenzo Bassi stated that “Today’s event has an historic impact, as for the first time a group of policy makers was addressed by the Pope on the topic of the demographic winter, encouraging all of us to join forces at all levels: civic society, churches and Governments. Focusing policies on the family is not a cost, but an investment for the future“.