His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania received Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, during an official visit to the Patriarchal Residence on Friday, 11 September 2026.
The delegation included Mara Roman, Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania; Cătălin Gheran, a member of Mînzatu’s Cabinet; Rareș Achiriloaie, Cabinet member and communications adviser; and Vladimir Nicolae Rovințescu, Director-General of the Managing Authority for the 2021–2027 Social Inclusion and Dignity Programme within Romania’s Ministry of European Investments and Projects.
The European Commission delegation’s visit to the Romanian Patriarchate began at the construction site of the St Elijah the Tishbite Youth Activities Centre in Pantelimon, Ilfov County.
The project, co-financed by the European Union through the 2021–2027 Social Inclusion and Dignity Programme, is being implemented by the Romanian Patriarchate over a period of 52 months, from 1 September 2025 to 31 December 2029. From Pantelimon, the European Commission delegation travelled to the Patriarchal Residence, where it was welcomed by Patriarch Daniel.
During the discussions, participants highlighted the role of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the education of children and young people, as well as the educational and catechetical projects conducted by the Romanian Patriarchate to prevent early school leaving.
They also emphasised the importance of cooperation between the family, Church, school and local authorities, as well as the need to establish a national multifunctional centre with cultural and sporting facilities for children near Bucharest.
Patriarch Daniel expressed his appreciation for the European Commission’s continued support for education through the funding it provides.
“The challenges to which children and young people are exposed in today’s society — marked by secularisation and globalisation, impoverished in spiritual values and subject to constant change and economic, social and moral crises, including emigration, alcohol and drug use, and physical or verbal violence — provide strong grounds for greater awareness of the role and importance of the family, Church and school in the education and formation of children and young people,” the Patriarch said.
“For many years, Romania has recorded the highest rate of early school leaving compared with the European average. Statistics show that this phenomenon is more common in rural areas and small towns, as well as in isolated or disadvantaged communities.”
During the meeting, both Patriarch Daniel and Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu emphasised the importance of using the resources available to each institution for the benefit of children who are vulnerable socially, educationally, spiritually and emotionally.
The European Commission Executive Vice-President expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Church to children from vulnerable backgrounds and for the human resources available to it across the country to carry out activities aimed at preventing early school leaving.
The meeting concluded that closer cooperation between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the European Commission is both necessary and possible in the fields of education, culture and social affairs.
At the conclusion of the meeting, as a token of appreciation, Patriarch Daniel presented Roxana Mînzatu with the Diploma and Medal of the 2026 Solemn Year of the Pastoral Care of the Christian Family.
The European Commission delegation then visited the Palace of the Patriarchate and the National Cathedral, followed by the St Sophia Day Centre for Children, an institution operating with the support of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The centre seeks to prevent the social exclusion of children from vulnerable families by providing social, educational, psychological and medical services through a day programme for school-age children.
At the conclusion of her visit, Roxana Mînzatu expressed her gratitude for the welcome, hospitality and openness shown during her visit to the Romanian Patriarchate.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu
