The Third European Ecumenical Assembly was hosted in a city where the significance of the church in European history can be clearly seen with a Lutheran, Orthodox, Reformed, and Roman Catholic church all located in close proximity.
During the assembly, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso acknowledged Europe's Christian roots.
"Christianity is obviously part of our great heritage in Europe. This is a historic fact," said Barroso last Thursday, according to Ecumenical News International.
However, he quickly acknowledged that "it is also true that Europe is made up of diversity".
"We have many Muslims and we also have many people who have no religion at all," noted Barroso.
"What would be wrong is to pretend that religion does not exist in our society. That would be a big mistake."
The European Union offical also praised churches for promoting unity in Europe.
"Your churches and confessional communities can contribute, and make a real contribution, to a better understanding between people through promoting mutual respect in a context of shared values," said Barroso.
The Third European Ecumenical Assembly, which concluded last Sunday, was organised jointly by the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of Europe (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) - which groups most Anglican, Protestant and Orthodox Churches in Europe.
European identity, other faiths, migration, creation, justice and peace were all on the agenda during the ecumenical assembly, alongside questions of unity, spirituality and witness.
In addition to Barroso, speakers included the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians.
