At the opening of the International Conference of the World Union of Catholic Teachers (UMEC - WUCT) in Oradea on Monday, the organisation's President, Prof. Dr. Jan De Groof, conveyed a message of responsibility and hope to Catholic teachers worldwide.

'My message to Catholic teachers around the world is one of responsibility and hope. We have a huge responsibility: to contribute to the reformation and humanization of society, to take care of the most vulnerable students and our common home, as Pope Francis and Pope Leo emphasized. Teachers are the most important collaborators in building a more just, more united and more humane world,' De Groof declared for AGERPRES.

He said it was a great joy and an honor to be in Oradea, praising the city's educational model, which he described as rooted not only in knowledge but in 'human dignity and moral responsibility'. From a Catholic perspective, he added, education must form people capable of contributing to the common good. Europe, he said, 'needs examples like Oradea - a model of cooperation between the community, the state and educational institutions.'

De Groof, who comes from Antwerp, a former European Capital of Culture, went further in his speech, suggesting that Oradea should consider applying for the same title, a proposal greeted with applause.

The conference, held in the ceremonial room of Oradea City Hall, gathered 65 Catholic teachers from Europe, Asia and Africa, alongside ecclesiastical, academic and civil officials, as well as teachers and students from the city's Catholic high schools. The event was chaired by its host, Greek Catholic Bishop Virgil Bercea. The opening session featured a musical duet by artists Ovidiu Lazar and Roxana Muresan, in English and Italian.

For the first time, representatives from Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia joined the meeting, marking a welcomed expansion of UMEC - WUCT.

A key intervention came from the Apostolic Nuncio to Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Archbishop Giampiero Gloder, who conveyed Pope Leo XIV's message of support and stressed that education must be lived as a 'mission' aimed at forming character and helping students overcome life's obstacles.

Education, he said, 'does not only mean passing down knowledge, but also the cultivation of human, spiritual and moral values, in a society increasingly dominated by efficiency and technology'. He warned about the impact of artificial intelligence and the digital environment, acknowledging their benefits but insisting that nothing can replace authentic human relationships between teachers and students. He called for the ethical use of new technologies in the service of the person and human dignity.

The Nuncio also welcomed the fact that the Romanian state recognizes the educational and social role of religions. Education, he concluded, is 'an act of hope and passion', encouraging teachers to continue their mission with dedication.

Roman Catholic Bishop Bocskei László, President of the Romanian Bishops' Conference, underlined that the Christian mission begins with drawing closer to Jesus and listening to the truth of the Gospel, then continues through the commitment to transmit these values, especially through the education of young people. In a diverse and changing world, he said, schools and Christian educators must find new ways to make faith alive and relevant.

Mayor Florin Birta highlighted Oradea as 'a multiethnic, multicultural and multiconfessional city', where four dioceses - Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Reformed and Orthodox - coexist in harmony. The city's development, he said, has been built on collaboration and mutual respect.

Liana Morut of the County School Inspectorate stressed the importance of Christian values in educating young people, while Cristina Avrigeanu, head of the County Centre for Educational Resources and Assistance, emphasized the role of the more than 200 counsellors, speech therapists and support teachers in guiding children throughout their schooling. She called for systemic cooperation: 'Education must be 360 degrees.'

Closing the session, Bishop Virgil Bercea urged teachers to remain steadfast in their mission: 'To educate means to give for the future... Have the patience of the sower. Love the Lord as a model and, from His light, transmit to the students all the best that you have.'

The UMEC - WUCT conference, held at Bishop Bercea's invitation under the theme 'Education as Mission: Collaboration and Exchange of Best Practices between Member States' runs from May 23 to 27. The program includes liturgical celebrations, working sessions and meetings on international cooperation in education, along with cultural and academic visits across Oradea. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Eugenia Pasca; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)