The president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, stated that the future of the planet depends on shifting from a logic of exploitation to a culture of care, and emphasized that the response to the socio-environmental crisis must be built on integral ecology, listening to communities, and the participation of the Amazonian peoples.
In an interview with Vatican Radio – Vatican News, following his participation in the Consistory held in Rome on June 26 and 27, Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, Archbishop of Manaus and president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), shared his reflections on the challenges facing the Church in light of the climate crisis, the defense of indigenous peoples, and the urgency of fostering an authentic culture of care.
A Consistory to Listen to the Universal Church
The cardinal described the Consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV as a “moment of grace,” in which cardinals from different continents were able to share the pastoral realities of their particular Churches and delve deeper into the challenges facing humanity.
In that context, he explained that he had the opportunity to present the reality of the Amazon, bringing the experiences, hopes, and concerns of indigenous communities, riverine communities, and the peoples inhabiting the Amazon to the heart of the universal Church.
For the president of CEAMA, these opportunities for encounter help strengthen ecclesial communion and foster a better understanding of the diversity of cultures and contexts from which the Church proclaims the Gospel.
Integral ecology remains a priority
Although he spoke positively about the Consistory, Cardinal Steiner stated that one aspect deserving further exploration is integral ecology, an issue he considers crucial for the present and future of humanity.
Recalling his participation in the preparatory processes for COP30, he insisted that the climate crisis demands much more than political commitments: it requires a true conversion in the way people relate to creation.
In this regard, he once again highlighted the relevance of the encyclical *Laudato si’*, which proposes understanding creation not as a resource meant for exploitation, but as our Common Home entrusted to the care of all humanity.
“Humanity needs to move from a logic of exploitation to an authentic culture of care,” he affirmed.
Drawing inspiration from the wisdom of the Amazonian peoples, he shared an image that illustrates this commitment:
“Our Common Home is like a boat. We can gradually repair the damaged parts, but if we keep removing planks to satisfy immediate interests, there will come a time when the boat will sink.”
An Environmental Crisis That Is Also Social
During the interview, the cardinal noted that the ecological crisis cannot be understood solely in terms of environmental degradation; rather, it directly affects people’s lives, especially those living in the Amazon region.
He warned of the growing pressures stemming from the exploitation of strategic minerals, oil expansion, and other extractive projects that threaten the integrity of ecosystems and jeopardize the rights of indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and the most vulnerable populations.
He cautioned that the future of the Amazon and the planet depends on protecting these territories and recognizing the fundamental role their inhabitants play in conserving biodiversity and maintaining global climate balance.
Listening to Walk Together
One of the central themes of the CEAMA president’s reflection was synodality as a concrete path to addressing current challenges.
For Cardinal Steiner, the strength of the Church in the Amazon stems from the communities, where the Gospel is lived out through closeness, solidarity, and the participation of the entire People of God.
He shared the experience of the Archdiocese of Manaus, which for nearly three decades has been carrying out an ongoing synodal process based on listening to the communities.
As part of the preparation for its upcoming Archdiocesan Assembly, more than a thousand communities are currently participating in Bible study groups that reflect on the Word of God and the reality of their territories. The contributions are collected, organized, and returned to the communities for their discernment, ensuring that pastoral decisions truly respond to the needs of the people.
This method, he explained, has made it possible to identify specific priorities, including the training of new catechists, the strengthening of small communities, and addressing the social challenges faced by the Amazonian peoples.
A Church with an Amazonian Face at the Service of Life
Cardinal Leonardo Steiner’s reflections reaffirm the path that CEAMA has been promoting since its creation: a Church with an Amazonian face, deeply synodal, committed to integral ecology, and close to the peoples who inhabit the Amazon.
In a context marked by the climate crisis, threats to territories, and the search for truly sustainable development models, the president of CEAMA emphasized that the Church’s mission involves listening to, accompanying, and walking alongside communities, promoting an ecological conversion that integrates the defense of creation, the dignity of peoples, and the proclamation of the Gospel.
From this perspective, the Amazon continues to offer the world a witness of hope, reminding us that care for our Common Home begins with recognizing that everything is interconnected and that the future can only be built on the foundations of justice, fraternity, and the shared care of life.