Catholic Medical Associations (FEAMC) 26-28.09.2025 in Bari

Prof. Bogdan Chazan

Prof. Dariusz Gąsecki

Ewa Ślizień Kuczapska, MD, PhD

Report

from the trip to the General Assembly of the European Federation of Catholic Doctors’ Associations (FEAMC) in Conversano near Bari (Italy)

On 26 – 28 September 2025

The General Assembly was convened on a date consistent with the Statute of the Federation. The number of delegates from each national association of Catholic physicians was proportional to the number of members. The Catholic Association of Polish Physicians was given the right to send three delegates. The condition was to pay membership fees on time. The trip was offered to us by the Main Board of the KSLP paying for our accommodation costs (350 Euro). We covered the travel costs from our own funds.

The venue of the meeting was the medieval monastery of Oasis dell Sacro Cuore in Santa Maria dell’ Isola in Conversano, about 50 kilometers from Bari, the capital of the Apulia region. The purpose of the Assembly was to elect a new FEAMC Executive Committee and to discuss the problem of the spirituality of the Catholic doctor. Each day began with Matins in the beautifully restored chapel and during the day a Holy Mass was celebrated, usually by the Cardinal. The deliberations and accompanying program were perfectly prepared by the outgoing president of FEAMC, Dr. Vincenzo Defilippis, who lives in the vicinity of Bari.

On September 26, during the morning session, we took up the topic of the spirituality of Catholic doctors. After the lecture by J. Em. Dr. Wilem Jacobus Ejik, Primate of the Netherlands, who accompanied us throughout the meeting in Conversano, delegates from individual countries in their speeches successively informed how they put spirituality into practice in everyday life as Catholic doctors. Proposals for the principles of FEAMC functioning in the future were also presented. Most of the delegations had previously communicated in writing to the Secretary General the experiences of their associations, the activity of their members, the problems and ways of solving them, and the question of the spirituality of Catholic doctors. The study from the KLSP was prepared by Prof. Bogdan Chazan and after being accepted by the President, Dr. med. Elżbieta Kortyczko and the other two Polish delegates, it was sent to FEAMC and disseminated among delegates from other Catholic medical associations. It is attached to the Report.

In the speech of the Cardinal and the delegates, attention was drawn to the fact that the spirituality of Catholic doctors is primarily defined through the prism of the spirituality of the Church to which they belong. The spirituality of doctors is shaped gradually based on work on oneself, formation of conscience, cooperation with the Holy Spirit and the entire Holy Trinity. Especially in contact with patients, it is about developing relationships in accordance with the principles of secular ethics, but deepened by the virtues of faith, hope and love resulting from faith and the inner, spiritual development of the doctor. This makes the Catholic doctor function as a professional in his field and at the same time becomes a witness to the Gospel in the workplace. Christian medical spirituality has a personalistic character, it is based on faith in eternal life, the hope of resurrection and the meaning of suffering. The doctor undertakes daily service based on bioethical principles, using the message of mercy and compassion with the suffering patient. He reaches for the teaching of the Church in the field of morality, referring it to everyday medical practice. Evangelical love is its most important principle. A very important fruit of Christian spirituality is the acceptance of human life, which we have received from God, the recognition of its holiness from conception to natural death, and its protection. Spirituality finds its expression in the formation of a doctor’s conscience.

Catholic doctors’ associations are different from other civil and social organizations, they have the mandate of the Church to disseminate its mission in the medical community and in society as a whole. The delegates presented various forms of activity of their Associations: spiritual retreats, solemn celebration of the days of the Patron Saints of doctors: St. Luke, Saints Cosmas and Damian, participation in pilgrimages, marches for life, scientific and training conferences, activity in the activities of the parishes in which they live. They emphasized the importance of cooperation between medical professionals and priests. It was postulated that spiritual care in hospitals should be directed not only to dying patients, but also to medical staff.

A new amount of membership fee has been adopted, depending on the number of members of the national association. For KSLP, it will be 500 Euros per year.

In increasingly secularized communities, the activity of Catholic associations encounters various obstacles, some believers prefer to live their faith privately, outside institutions, others are afraid to publicly identify themselves as Catholics. There is a lack of energy, time, and financial resources. The problem is the small number of members and their advanced average age, which makes it difficult to communicate using social media. Many believing students or doctors are involved in the activities of other Catholic organizations and parish structures. Others feel tired, burned out and lonely in an environment that is increasingly indifferent to faith in God. Students are involved in the activities of charismatic groups, offering strong emotional experiences and immediate answers to their questions.

The most important task for the future seems to be to encourage young doctors to join our associations. We should actively work against the creation of a law allowing abortion and euthanasia, plead for our colleagues exhausted by hard work, whose life expectancy is shorter than that of their patients. It is the duty of a Catholic doctor to practice evidence-based medicine, because each of us should be a good professional. It is necessary to facilitate mutual contact between doctors, also outside meetings, through online forums and private groups in social media. We should be present in current discussions, speak in the public media. Professional, Catholic medical journals are very important, helpful in gaining knowledge, shaping attitudes, and the spirituality of doctors. It is necessary to organize conferences, including nationwide ones, it is a chance to reach young doctors. A good example is the Brotherhood of Young Fellows of Saint Luke, active in Belgium. It is necessary to return to the tradition of a mentor, an experienced doctor who supervises a younger colleague individually. We should benefit from the different experiences of colleagues in other countries and support each other.

On the evening of September 26, we listened to a concert of Renaissance music in the monastery.

On 27 September, the election of the new FEAMC president took place. The only candidate, unanimously chosen, was Professor Rok Čivljak from Croatia, a specialist in infectious diseases and intensive care. He presented the plans of his activities to the gathered people. He made a very good impression, he intends to visit all the national associations. The terms of office of the First Vice-President, Professor Józef Glas from Slovakia, the Treasurer, Dr. Diogo Cunha a Sa from Portugal and the Secretary General, Professor Frans van Ittersum from the Netherlands, have been extended. A member of our delegation, Professor Dariusz Gąsecki, Dr. Egle Markuniene from Lithuania and Dr. Stefan de Smedt from Belgium received an offer from the new president to take up the positions of vice-presidents. Dr. Vincenzo Defilippis received a huge thank you for his leadership of FEAMC so far and for the preparation of the General Assembly in Conversano.

In the afternoon we left for Polignano a Mare, walked along the beautiful seaside promenade, visited the local cathedral, had lunch in the company of the local archbishop Don Gaetano Luca. After returning to Oasis and a short rest, we were taken to Bari, the capital of the Apulia region. We visited the ancient cathedral of St. Nicholas, prayed at his relics. With great emotion we saw the grave of the Queen of Polish, Lithuania and Ruthenia Bona Sforza, the wife of King Sigismund the Old, the mother of King Sigismund Augustus and Queen Anna Jagiellon, who founded this grave. Together with the delegates from Lithuania, we lined up for photographs in front of the grave of our common queen. After the solemn Holy Mass, we entered the memorial book of the cathedral. On the way back, we had a festive traditional dinner together in a seaside restaurant in Mola di Bari.

On Sunday morning, Cardinal Wilem Jacobus Ejik celebrated the last Holy Mass, after which we were taken to the Karol Wojtyla Airport in Bari.

On 30 September 2025

Below is a link to the presentations and texts of the lectures given during the FEAMC General Assembly, 26-28 September 2025, Bari – Conversano.

Presentations and texts FEAMC General Assembly Bari – Conversano 2025 – FEAMC