As part of the meeting of bishops of the Amazon being held in Bogotá, a press conference was held in which various church representatives reflected on the challenges and hopes facing the region. Topics ranged from bilingual intercultural education and the defense of indigenous peoples to the role of the Church in protecting the Amazonian territory, preparations for COP30, and collaboration with the Antilles.
The panelists agreed on the need to walk together as a synodal Church, strengthen cooperation networks, and keep alive the hope of the Amazonian peoples who today suffer environmental, social, and cultural threats but continue to be bearers of life and faith for the world.
Education and defense of life
The first to speak was Monsignor David Martínez de Aguirre, apostolic vicar of Puerto Maldonado in Peru and vice president of CEAMA, who proudly presented the Amazonian Bilingual Intercultural Education Network (REIBA) as one of the initiatives born after the 2019 Synod on the Amazon.
He noted that this project seeks to respond to the wide educational gap that exists between indigenous peoples and national societies by offering tools that enable them to participate in global dialogue. REIBA is present in ten Amazonian jurisdictions and has local and international volunteers who promote training projects and strengthen community values in education.
He also lamented the growing threat to indigenous and social leaders who defend their territories against extractive pressures. He recalled the recent murder of Hipólito Quispehuamán Conde in Puerto Maldonado as a symbol of the risk faced by those who protect rivers, forests, and Amazonian biodiversity. “The whole Church weeps with them and hears the cry of the earth,” he said, reaffirming the Church’s solidarity with those who risk their lives in defense of our common home.
REPAM: 11 years of advocacy through networking
On behalf of Ecuador, Monsignor Rafael Cob, apostolic vicar of Puyo and president of REPAM, celebrated the eleven years of work of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network, which was officially established in Brazil in 2014 but collaborates with several countries in the region.
He reported that REPAM has succeeded in joining forces in defense of life and biodiversity in the Amazon, as well as influencing international forums such as the OAS and the UN. The network, he added, has allowed the voice of the Amazon to be heard beyond its territory, becoming a global reference point in the defense of planetary balance.
He also highlighted the importance of defending the human rights of the Amazonian peoples, which are constantly violated by deforestation, mining, and climate change. He recalled the work of the human rights schools promoted by the network and highlighted that the Amazon Synod marked a turning point for the Church and the region. “When we dream together, dreams come true,” he concluded, encouraging the continued construction of a future of hope.
CEAMA: mission and prophecy
Sister Laura Vicuña Pereira, vice president of CEAMA, then spoke, indicating that the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon was born in response to the 2019 Synod, becoming a pioneering body in articulating the pastoral mission in the Amazonian territory. She emphasized that CEAMA is an instrument for living synodality, inculturating the faith, and including the prophetic voice of communities, women, and lay people in its leadership.
She emphasized that CEAMA’s mission is focused on walking together, learning from cultural diversity, and denouncing structures that prevent communities from living fully. He mentioned that the Amazonian Church has as its reference points the first Christian communities, the Second Vatican Council, and the Synod of the Amazon itself, three pillars that sustain its action. “What unites us is our mission to live and serve in this territory,” he said, calling for the continued building of a Church that is inculturated and committed to integral ecology.
Road to COP30
Monsignor Júlio Endi Akamine, Archbishop of Belém do Pará, then took the floor and spoke about the preparations for COP30, which will be held in November in that Brazilian city, the gateway to the Amazon.
The event will bring together representatives from 93 countries for two weeks of work—the first week technical and the second with heads of state. He highlighted that the Brazilian Church is promoting initiatives such as the Fraternity Campaign focused on integral ecology to raise awareness in communities.
The archbishop noted that the Archdiocese of Belém is preparing to welcome international delegations and promote the participation of society in COP30. With the support of Radio Nazaré and thematic centers, the aim is to bring the event closer to communities and raise awareness. “The Amazon rainforest is home to peoples who have cared for it for centuries,” he said, calling for more ambitious commitments to combat climate change.
A bridge between the Amazon and the Antilles
The press conference concluded with Monsignor Francis Alleyne, bishop of Georgetown (Guyana), explaining that the Antillean Episcopal Conference (AEC), which comprises 21 jurisdictions in the Caribbean and continental areas such as Guyana, Suriname, and Belize, maintains a close relationship with the ecclesial processes in the Amazon. He mentioned that the AEC was invited to participate in the Amazon Synod, the Synod on Synodality, and the creation of CEAMA, thus demonstrating a sign of collaboration between regions that share very similar pastoral and environmental challenges.
The prelate noted that this meeting of Amazonian bishops has been an experience of learning and communion. He said he felt strengthened by hearing his brother bishops’ commitment to defending the Amazon and assured them that he would take these experiences back to his diocese in Guyana. “We need each other, and when we listen to each other, we achieve harmonious participation,” he said, convinced that walking together strengthens the mission of the universal Church.