On Wednesday, July 8, the Meeting of the Bishops of the Colombian Amazon with the Executive Secretariat of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) took place at the headquarters of the Colombian Episcopal Conference (CEC), as part of the CXXI Plenary Assembly of the Colombian Episcopate, held July 6–10 in Bogotá.
The meeting brought together the bishops of the ecclesiastical jurisdictions that make up the Colombian Amazon biome for a forum of dialogue, discernment, and pastoral planning aimed at strengthening communion among the particular Churches and consolidating the synodal process promoted by CEAMA throughout the Pan-Amazon region.
Representing the Presidency of the Ecclesial Conference were Executive Secretary Marcelo Lemos; Secretary Sister Carolina Forero, HJK, assistant to the Executive Secretary; and Fernando Rueda, Communications Coordinator.
CEAMA, at the Service of the Particular Churches
During the meeting, Marcelo Lemos presented the journey CEAMA has undertaken since its creation in 2020 and shared the framework for this new ecclesial phase.
He emphasized that, as established at the Sixth General Assembly and confirmed by the presidency, the mission of the Ecclesial Conference is to serve the particular Churches of the Amazon, strengthening communion, promoting processes of discernment, and accompanying the evangelizing mission in the territories.
He also explained that the Synodal Pastoral Horizons 2026–2030 seek to bring about a Church that listens, discerns, and moves forward based on the realities of each Amazonian territory, strengthening co-responsibility among local Churches and ecclesial organizations.
In the case of Colombia, he emphasized the importance of continuing to build shared processes among the Amazonian jurisdictions, sharing pastoral experiences, and strengthening a coordinated ecclesial presence in the face of the social, cultural, and environmental challenges facing the region.
Toward the First Colombian Ecclesial Assembly of the Amazon
The dialogue among the bishops led to several agreements aimed at strengthening the ecclesial journey of the Colombian Amazon.
Among the main agreements, the following stood out:
● To utilize the Local Church Assemblies as spaces for listening, consultation, and discernment in preparation for the Amazonian Ecclesial Assemblies, leading up to the 2028 World Ecclesial Assembly, convened by Pope Leo XIV.
● To promote processes of pastoral formation and discernment, in line with the priorities of the Colombian Episcopal Conference.
● Confirm the holding of the First Ecclesial Assembly of the Colombian Amazon, which will take place from May 3 to 7, 2027, in the Diocese of San José del Guaviare, as a space for bishops, consecrated life, indigenous peoples, laypeople, and pastoral workers to come together and discern the challenges and horizons of the mission in the Amazon region.
The participants agreed that this process will help foster greater coordination among the particular Churches of Colombia and strengthen communion with the other Churches of the Amazon.
A Church Walking Together
The following participated in the meeting:
● B Bishop Joaquín Humberto Pinzón Güiza, I.M.C.B , Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Leguízamo-Solano.
● B Bishop Medardo de Jesús Henao del Río, M.X.Y.,B Apostolic Vicariate of Mitú.
● B Bishop Jaime Uriel Sanabria AriasB , Diocese of Yopal.
● B Bishop Misael Vacca Ramírez,B Archdiocese of Villavicencio.
● B Bishop John Mario Mesa Palacio,B Apostolic Vicariate of Leticia.
● B Bishop Jesús Alberto Torres ArizaB , Diocese of San José del Guaviare.
● B Bishop Omar de Jesús Mejía GiraldoB , Archdiocese of Florencia and president of REPAM Colombia.
● B Bishop Joselito Carreño QuiñonesB , M.X.Y., Apostolic Vicariate of Inírida and delegate of the bishops of Colombia to CEAMA.
● B Bishop Héctor Javier Pizarro Acevedo, O.A.R.B , Apostolic Vicariate of Trinidad.
● B Bishop William Prieto DazaB , Diocese of San Vicente del Caguán.
● B Bishop Raúl Alfonso Carrillo Martínez, C.Ss.R.B , Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Gaitán.
● B Bishop Jorge Enrique Malpica Bejarano,B Diocese of Granada.
● B Bishop Álvaro Mon Pérez, C.Ss.R.B , Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Carreño.
The Path Forward for REPAM
Another topic addressed during the meeting was the new phase of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM).
The bishops were informed that, as of this year, REPAM has a new working team tasked with strengthening pastoral coordination, advocacy, and support for the Churches and peoples of the Amazon.
It was also announced that REPAM and CEAMA are now headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia—a decision that will allow for closer coordination between the two ecclesial organizations and enhance their joint service to the particular Churches of the Amazon.
As an expression of this new institutional phase, the outcomes of the meeting of the REPAM Human Rights and International Advocacy Group—held in Bogotá from July 1–5, 2026—were shared. At that meeting, representatives from various Amazonian countries strengthened regional coordination and defined common strategies for the defense of life, the rights of Amazonian peoples, and the care of our Common Home.
The bishops viewed this renewed collaboration between CEAMA and REPAM positively, emphasizing that the close relationship between the two bodies will foster greater pastoral coordination, more effective advocacy, and closer support for the Churches in the Colombian Amazon and throughout the Amazon region.
At the conclusion, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to continue strengthening a Church that walks in communion, listening, and shared responsibility, convinced that the Colombian Amazon plays a fundamental role in the synodal process of the universal Church.
The meeting concluded with a shared conviction that sums up the vision for this common journey: many particular Churches, one Catholic Church; one Spirit and a shared mission from the Amazon region.