On 26 February 2026, the 14th cohort of Fellows celebrated the completion of their European Leadership Programme (ELP) journey during a graduation ceremony held in Brussels, marking the culmination of five months of shared learning, reflection, and growth. They were accompanied by Filipe Martins SJ, director of JESC, Dalibor Renić SJ, President of JCEP, Botond Feledy, European Leadership Programme (ELP) Manager, Lucia Trubenová, ELP Officer, and other members of the JESC team and the Jesuit community attached to the Conference of Provincials. Among the main speakers there were Mons. Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, and Teresa Pallarés-Ramos, ELP alumnae.

The European Leadership Programme (ELP) is a five-month formation programme designed to support future leaders across Europe. Coordinated by the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC), the programme combines professional development, Ignatian spirituality, and engagement with the European institutional context. A significative number of the fellows at the program are, in fact, Jesuit alumni or have contacts with the Jesuits in their places of origins, therefore, the ELP becomes a bridge between the apostolic work in the local provinces and the European milieu in Brussels. By forming leaders capable of navigating complexity with discernment and responsibility, ELP contributes to strengthening collaboration and mission across the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials, and helps to create a network of people in the European milieu connected with the Society of Jesus. This is a precious tool for the mission of the Society in Europe.

The evening opened with remarks from Filipe Martins SJ and Erik De Bom, who invited participants to reflect on what it means to exercise leadership in times of uncertainty and on the responsibility such leadership entails. Their words set the tone for a celebration that looked not only at achievements, but at the deeper call to serve.

A highlight of the ceremony was the keynote address delivered by Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union. He connected leadership with values, discernment, and moral responsibility, encouraging the Fellows to remain rooted in ethical conviction amid the complexities of today’s political and social landscape.

Participants were also inspired by alumna Teresa Pallarés-Ramos, who shared reflections from her own professional and personal journey since completing the programme. Drawing on her experience, she encouraged the new graduates to embrace both challenge and opportunity with courage and hope.

The ceremony included a moment of gratitude for the mentors and coaches whose accompaniment forms the heart of the ELP experience. Their patient guidance throughout the five months has supported Fellows not only in developing competencies, but in deepening their awareness of leadership as service.

As the 14th cohort joins the growing network of ELP alumni across Europe, the graduation marked not an end, but the beginning of a renewed commitment: to lead with discernment, integrity, and a spirit of collaboration in service of the common good.