Representatives of the Orthodox Churches to the European Union (CROCEU) met in Brussels to discuss preparations for an international conference dedicated to the teachings of the Church Fathers in the age of artificial intelligence.
The meeting took place on Tuesday at the Ambiorix Orthodox Centre and was chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Representatives of the Romanian Patriarchate to the European Union, Fr Sorin Șelaru and Fr George Vâlcu, also attended.
The challenges of artificial intelligence
One of the main topics of the meeting was the organisation of the international conference, “The Values of the Holy Fathers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: An Orthodox Christian Analysis of the Human Person, Children and the Family Structure”.
The event will take place on 19–20 November at the Ambiorix Orthodox Centre in Brussels.
The conference is an initiative of the Facta est Lux Institute for Human Rights, organised in cooperation with CROCEU and the Apostle Paul Orthodox Theological Institute in Brussels.
The discussions will bring together theologians, academics, clergy, researchers, education specialists and artificial intelligence experts.
They will examine the impact of emerging technologies on individuals, family life, education and society from the perspective of Orthodox Church teaching.
Dialogue between Churches and European institutions
During the meeting, participants also reviewed the conference “Christian Values in Europe: A New Reading of Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) in View of the Current Global Uncertainties”, held at the European Parliament on 30 September.
The event addressed the place of Christian values in contemporary Europe and the importance of dialogue between European institutions and Churches, in accordance with Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
CROCEU members also discussed their participation in two meetings organised by European institutions in December.
Cooperation to support vulnerable people
Heather Roy, Secretary General of Eurodiaconia, also attended the meeting in Brussels.
Eurodiaconia is a European organisation bringing together Churches and Christian organisations involved in social services, healthcare and charitable activities.
The discussions highlighted the importance of cooperation between Churches, civil society organisations and European institutions in developing social policies and supporting people facing hardship.
Participants also explored opportunities to expand cooperation between CROCEU and Eurodiaconia in the social and charitable sectors.
The next CROCEU meeting is scheduled for January 2027 at the Ambiorix Orthodox Centre in Brussels.
