EU appoints McGuinness as special envoy for religious freedom after 16-month vacancy

EU bishops and lawmakers welcomed the appointment of veteran Irish politician Mairead McGuinness to lead the bloc’s global religious freedom diplomacy, a post left unfilled for more than a year.

BRUSSELS — The European Commission has appointed former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness as its new special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU, ending a vacancy of more than a year that had raised concerns among lawmakers and Church leaders.

The position focuses on promoting FoRB in the EUʼs external relations, including engagement with third countries, international organizations, and civil society.

McGuinness brings senior institutional experience to the role. During her time in the European Parliament, she led dialogue with churches, religious organizations, and philosophical groups under Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which provides a formal framework for engagement between EU institutions and faith communities.

The European Parliamentʼs Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief welcomed the appointment, with co-chairs Mirjam Lexmann and Bert-Jan Ruissen saying it was “high time” the post was filled after remaining vacant for over a year.

Ruissen pointed to ongoing global challenges, including serious violence and persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria and surrounding countries, the situation of religious minorities in Syria, and anti-conversion laws in Pakistan and India.

Lexmann emphasized the envoyʼs importance in todayʼs turbulent world: “In the rough sea that characterises todayʼs geopolitical reality, the protection of freedom of religion or belief, which is a fundamental human right, must remain our compass. It is precisely in moments of global uncertainty and conflict that the European Union must stand firm in defending human dignity, religious freedom, and the values on which the European project was founded.”

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) welcomed the appointment. COMECE President, Italian Bishop Mariano Crociata, noted that the bishops’ conferences have worked closely with McGuinness in the past.

Crociata underlined that the role is a key component of the EUʼs external action and is essential for advancing the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

COMECE reiterated its call for the position to be supported by a strong mandate and adequate resources, especially amid rising global discrimination and persecution of religious communities.

The special envoy post was created in 2016 following calls from the European Parliament to strengthen the EUʼs response to global religious persecution, including attacks by ISIS against Christians and other religious minorities.

The first holder was Slovak politician Ján Figeľ, who served from 2016 to 2019. He was actively involved in international advocacy efforts on behalf of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row after being falsely accused of blasphemy. She was acquitted in 2018 and now lives in Canada.