Annual meeting of the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

The annual Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is taking place this week in Montreal, bringing together the Catholic bishops of Canada for their annual meeting and time of prayer, discussion and discernment.

Bishop Joseph Dabrowski, C.S.M.A., and Bishop Lobsinger are both participating in the Plenary Assembly alongside the other bishops of Canada.

The Plenary Assembly began on Monday, September 21, with the celebration of the Eucharist, presided over by the Most Reverend Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and President of the CCCB.

During the opening proceedings, Bishop Goudreault presented his President’s Annual Report, reviewing the principal activities and achievements of the Episcopal Conference since the 2025 plenary meeting. Among the developments highlighted were Pope Leo XIV’s gift of 62 cultural artifacts from the Vatican Museums to the CCCB and their subsequent transfer to the National Indigenous Organizations and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, as part of the ongoing journey of healing, reconciliation and relationship-building between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples; the continued implementation of synodality in the Church in Canada; the establishment of a national Service for Migrant and Refugee Ministry (Human Mobility); and initiatives to strengthen the CCCB’s engagement with the federal government.

The Plenary Assembly also approved a letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, signed by Bishop Goudreault on behalf of the bishops present. In the letter, the bishops ask for the Holy Father’s prayers as they undertake their common discernment and consider the pastoral priorities that will guide the work of the Conference in the coming year. The letter also reflects on a number of matters facing the Church and Canadian society, including synodality, human dignity, artificial intelligence, migration, the sacred liturgy, and the Church’s responsibility toward victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

The Diocese of Hamilton will share video coverage from the Plenary Assembly through Salt + Light Media throughout the week, providing an opportunity to follow some of the discussions and activities taking place in Montreal.