Manaus, Brazil | September 2026. The bishops of Northern Region 1 of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), which includes the dioceses of Amazonas and Roraima, released a message addressed to the faithful and society at large, calling for conscious participation in the 2026 elections and civic responsibility in safeguarding democracy, the Amazon, and its peoples.
This initiative is part of the Catholic Church’s educational role in shaping civic consciousness. In line with the CNBB’s message for the 2026 elections, the bishops reaffirm that the Church does not endorse political parties or candidates but offers criteria for discernment inspired by the Gospel and the Church’s Social Doctrine.
“Voting is an exercise of citizenship”
In the message, the bishops encourage citizens to participate in the electoral process and remind them that the vote is an expression of each person’s responsibility in building society.
The call includes a rejection of the buying and selling of votes and other practices of electoral corruption. Voters are invited to familiarize themselves with the candidates’ backgrounds, track records, and proposals before making their decision.
“A vote is not a commodity. Do not sell it, do not trade it, do not negotiate it,” the message emphasizes, while also drawing attention to practices of electoral corruption that may occur, especially in the days leading up to Election Day. This guidance is also in line with the general guidelines issued by the CNBB for the election period.
The bishops also warn against the use of religion as a tool for electoral mobilization, stressing that church communities should not be turned into venues for controlling or soliciting votes.
Voting and Caring for the Amazon
One of the central themes of the message is the relationship between civic participation and the defense of the Amazon.
The bishops highlight the importance of considering, in the exercise of citizenship, the care of the forests, the waters, and the peoples who inhabit the region. The message also draws attention to the protection of the territories of indigenous peoples, riverine communities, and traditional communities.
This perspective is linked to the Church’s very mission in the Amazon, which seeks to strengthen efforts to defend life, human dignity, and care for our Common Home.
The Northern Region 1 also emphasizes the need to elect representatives committed to the common good and to finding solutions to structural problems affecting society and the environment.
Democracy Continues After the Elections
Another aspect emphasized by the bishops is that citizen participation does not end at the moment of voting.
The message invites society to monitor those who are elected, maintaining an attitude of participation, oversight, and shared responsibility in public life.
For the bishops, democracy requires ongoing participation and a commitment to the common good. This guidance is in line with the CNBB’s general position that the Church does not choose candidates for voters, but can offer ethical criteria so that each citizen may freely exercise their political responsibility.
“We have no party, but we have a cause”
In concluding the message, the bishops reaffirm that the Catholic Church has no political party and that its public action is rooted in the values of the Gospel: care for the most vulnerable and impoverished, the promotion of peace and justice, reconciliation, the defense of the little ones, and care for our Common Home.
The message also recalls a statement attributed to Pope Francis regarding politics as one of the highest forms of charity when placed at the service of the common good.
“We have no political party, but we have a cause: the Gospel and the poor,” the message states, concluding with a call for democratic participation and conscientious voting.
Brazil’s 2026 general elections are scheduled for October 4, according to the electoral calendar.
For the Church in the Amazon, participating in the democratic process also means taking responsibility for caring for life, territories, communities, and our Common Home.