28 Sep ROK ČIVLJAK – NEW PRESIDENT OF FEAMC

The General Assembly of the European Federation of Catholic Medical Societies (FEAMC, a part of the World Federation FIAMC) took place in Bari from 26 to 28 September. After the introductory lecture by Cardinal Willem E. Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht (the Netherlands) entitled “The Spirituality of the Catholic Doctor in Europe”, an election assembly followed, at which Prof. Dr. Sc. Rok Čivljak, President of the Croatian Catholic Medical Association

In his welcome speech, Dr. Čivljak recalled the previous presidents of FEAMC, and especially his predecessor Prof. Vincenzo Defilippis from Italy, who led FEAMC perhaps in the most challenging times for FEAMC, which was the time of the COVID-19 epidemic, in which patients’ trust in health professionals, doctors’ trust in Catholic institutions, but unfortunately also trust in each other, was shaken.

The recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that doctors as a profession, but also as a social and religious community, are imperfect, vulnerable and flawed. At a time of growing threat to Christian values, which can be seen day by day in all areas around the world, including in Christian Europe, Catholic doctors have also become endangered, they have become a minority. That is why it is important to join together and support each other, so that members of national medical associations have a clear sense of identity and belonging to their association, but also to the Catholic Church. As a shining example of loyalty to the universal Catholic Church, he pointed out the example of our Croatian Blessed-Martyr Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac.

He also recalled the former spiritual assistant of FEAMC, Mons. Valentin Pozaić, who not only in Croatia, but also at the European level, was a spiritual support and a candle that constantly illuminated us with the Easter light, not allowing us to fall into the darkness of secularism, commercialism, dehumanization and distancing ourselves from spiritual and Christian values.

Just as there is no future for Europe without demography, there is no future for the Europe of Catholic doctors without young people. The great interest in the Summer Camp in Portugal on the eve of World Youth Day 2023 and this year’s Summer School of Ethics for Youth held in Dubrovnik this year, gives hope that there are very many young medics in Europe who want to live and work according to Christian principles and are ready to respond. However, they need to be invited, they need to recognize the interests and ways of communication of today’s young people and know how to respond readily to their needs – in a way appropriate to their ability to understand.

Prof. Dr. Jozef Glasa (Slovakia) was elected Vice-President of FEAMC, Prof. Dr. Frans J. van Ittersum (Netherlands) was elected Secretary General, Dr. Diogo Cunha e Sà (Portugal) was appointed Treasurer, while Dr. Vincenzo Defilippis was appointed an honorary member of the Board of Directors. Other officials will be elected at a later date.

Dr. sc. Petar Bilić