CEAMA begins a new phase with the renewal of its presidency for the 2026–2030 term, consolidating a deeply synodal ecclesial path where diverse vocations, ministries, and cultures converge in service to life in the Amazon.
This new presidency clearly expresses the face of a Church that walks with the people: bishops, priests, laypeople, indigenous leaders, and religious life, united in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel and defending our Common Home in one of the most challenging and hopeful territories in the world.
CEAMA Presidency 2026–2030
President – Episcopate
Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, OFM, Archbishop of Manaus (Brazil), assumes the presidency of CEAMA. His pastoral experience in the Amazon and his commitment to a Church that is close to the people, a defender of life, and a promoter of socio-environmental justice make him a key figure for this new ecclesial era. His leadership is characterized by a deep sensitivity toward the Amazonian peoples and by his commitment to a synodal and missionary Church.
Vice President – Priests
Fr. Jesús Huamán Conisilla, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Maldonado (Peru), represents the priests. With experience in Amazonian contexts, his ministry has been marked by closeness to communities and pastoral accompaniment in territories of great cultural and social diversity.
Vice President – Indigenous Peoples
Juan Urañavi, of the Guaraya people (Bolivia), and affiliated with the Apostolic Vicariate of Ñuflo de Chávez, represents the indigenous peoples. With a life dedicated to ecclesial and community service, his leadership draws on the ancestral wisdom and living experience of his people. His presence in the presidency reaffirms the central role of indigenous peoples in the life of the Amazonian Church.
Vice President – Laity
Marva Joy Hawksworth, from the Diocese of Georgetown (Guyana), assumes the vice presidency on behalf of the laity. A member of the Macushi people, her educational vocation and her commitment to interculturality strengthen formation processes in the Amazon, integrating faith, culture, and identity.
Vice President – Religious Life
Sister Sônia Maria Pinho de Matos, from the Archdiocese of Manaus (Brazil) and a member of the Congregation of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, represents religious life. With extensive pastoral experience in the Amazon, her service has been marked by closeness to communities and a deep knowledge of the region, serving as a sign of a prophetic and committed presence.
New Presidency: A Sign of Synodality
This new presidency is a concrete sign of the synodality promoted by CEAMA: a Church that walks together, that values the diversity of gifts, and that allows itself to be challenged by the reality of the region. It is also a living expression of the dream of a Church with an Amazonian face, where interculturality, participation, and co-responsibility are fundamental pillars.
In this new era, CEAMA reaffirms its commitment to the defense of life, the dignity of peoples, and the care of our Common Home, walking alongside the Amazon with hope, faith, and a deep missionary conviction.