The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

The Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland work together to undertake nationwide initiatives through their Commissions and Agencies.

The members of the Bishops' Conference are the Bishops of the eight Scottish Dioceses. Where appropriate the Bishops Emeriti (retired) provide a much welcomed contribution to the work of the conference. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a permanently constituted assembly which meets regularly throughout the year to address relevant business matters.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

25th May 2026

25 May 2026

First Encyclical of Pope Leo XIV: Magnifica Humanitas

The Bishops of Scotland warmly welcome Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, as a timely and insightful contribution to one of the defining questions of our age. As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes human life, this important document calls us to place the dignity of the human person at the heart of every technological advance.

We encourage the faithful, our schools and parish communities to read, study and pray with this landmark text.

To support this, the Office of Communications and Evangelisation will soon publish a parish study guide and other resources for small groups and parish use, helping communities to reflect more deeply on the opportunities and challenges of new technologies and their impact on human life.

Bishop John Keenan
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

Full text of Pope Leo XIV’s Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas:
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html

News from the Commissions and Agencies

March 2025

24Mar

Pope Francis makes first public greeting and blessing from hospital - Vatican News

24 Mar, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-03/pope-francis-makes-first-public-greeting-thanking-everyone.html

Pope Francis appears for the first time since his hospitalization from the balcony of Rome's Gemelli Hospital, before leaving the facility where he ...

24Mar

✝️Today is the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St Oscar Romero, who was killed by a single shot fired while he was cele...

24 Mar, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

✝️Today is the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St Oscar Romero, who was killed by a single shot fired while he was celebrating mass in a hospital chapel. Romero's assassination was ordered after he implored the army of El Salvador to stop killing people in a sermon the previous day: “In the name of God, and in the name of this suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day, I beg you, I implore you, I order you, in the name of God, stop the repression!”

🙏We ask for the intercession of St Oscar Romero for all those impacted by warfare and killing today, whose suffering cries call out loudly for justice, peace and reconciliation around the world.

24Mar

Cardinal Parolin: ‘There is no longer any respect for humanitarian law' - Vatican News

24 Mar, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Holy See Secretary of State expresses concern about the “systematic violation of international law”, especially the bombing of civilians and the ...

24Mar

✝️Today is the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St Oscar Romero, who was killed by a single shot fired while he was cele...

24 Mar, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

24Mar

Stations of the Cross continues tonight at 7:45pm

24 Mar, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Stations of the Cross continues tonight at 7:45pm.

Register at bit.ly/stations25

22Mar

Netanyahu’s difficulties are behind the return of war in Gaza - Vatican News

22 Mar, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2025-03/netanyahu-difficulties-behind-the-return-of-war-in-gaza.html

Political turmoil in Israel helps explain the collapse of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

22Mar

Pope Francis to be discharged from hospital on Sunday - Vatican News

22 Mar, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-03/pope-francis-discharged-hospital-santa-marta-convalescence.html

Pope Francis is scheduled to be discharged from hospital on Sunday, 23 March. He will return to Casa Santa Marta after the Angelus, during which he ...

22Mar

📢ANNOUCEMENT: Journals From Jerusalem in RC Diocese of Galloway and Motherwell Diocese

22 Mar, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📢ANNOUCEMENT: Journals From Jerusalem in RC Diocese of Galloway and Motherwell Diocese.

We are delighted to announce that Anne-Marie Clements, our Catholic Social Teaching Engagement Officer, will be speaking at two in-person events this Lent, sharing stories and reflections from her recent visit to Jerusalem while accompanying Archbishop Nolan for the Holy Land Coordination 2025.

The talks will feature stories heard first hand from the Christian communities of Jerusalem and the West Bank along with reflections on the urgent need for peace and an opportunity for discussion and Q&A. All the details are in the flyer below. 👇

21Mar

United against racism

21 Mar, 2025 | Justice & Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

🚫INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

🎬This short video from UNESCO featuring leading personalities from all over world reminds us how racism has permeated humanity's recent history from the Holocaust to Jim Crow Laws to South African apartheid. Now in 2025, racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries, yet still too many individuals and communities suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings. Watch and share to join together in taking action against racial discrimination: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDKOzFyes5Q

🙅Racism and related discrimination and intolerance exist in all societies, everywhere. Racism harms not just the lives of those who endure it, but also society as a whole. We all lose in a society characterised by discrimination, division, distrust, intolerance, and hate. The fight against racism is everyone’s fight. We all have a part to play in building a world beyond racism.

✝️The Catholic Church presents a consistent moral judgement on racism and discrimination throughout its teachings and documents that is grounded in fundamental scriptural beliefs: the equal dignity of all people, created in God’s image and likeness.

🇻🇦"Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, colour, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design." - Gaudium et Spes, 1965.

We all can do something against racism. You too. Join UNESCO and leading personalities from all over the world in denouncing mounting racial discrimination.T...

20Mar

Worshippers flock to see body of Brit-born teen ahead of canonisation

20 Mar, 2025 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14515887/amp/Worshippers-flock-view-preserved-body-Brit-born-teen-dubbed-Gods-influencer-buy-merchandise-depicting-millennial-saint-ahead-canonisation-month.html

Acutis, who died aged 15 from leukaemia in 2006, is to become the Catholic Church's first millennial saint after being credited with miracles since his death.