During the 6th General Assembly of CEAMA, held in Bogotá, Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, the current Metropolitan Archbishop of Manaus, was elected as the new president for the 2026–2030 term.
The election took place on Wednesday, March 18, in an atmosphere of discernment, communion, and commitment to the Church’s mission in the Amazon.
A pastor with a profound missionary spirit
Dom Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, O.F.M., is originally from Forquilhinha, in the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil), and belongs to the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). He was ordained a priest on January 21, 1978, by his cousin, Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns.
His academic training includes studies in Philosophy and Theology in Petrópolis (Brazil), as well as a master’s degree and doctorate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Antonianum in Rome, where he also served as Secretary General from 1999 to 2003.
Throughout his religious life, he has served in various fields of formation, distinguishing himself as a novice master and formator of new generations in consecrated life.
Episcopal Career in the Service of the Church in Brazil
Upon his return to Brazil, he carried out his pastoral ministry in Curitiba and in the academic sphere, before being appointed the second bishop of the Prelature of São Félix (2005–2011), a Church marked by its commitment to indigenous peoples and the most vulnerable communities.
In 2011, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Brasília and secretary general of the CNBB, a role he held until 2019, contributing significantly to the pastoral coordination of the Church in the country.
On November 27, 2019, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon. In 2022, he was created a cardinal, in recognition of his pastoral closeness and his commitment to the Amazonian peoples.
Currently, he also presides over the CNBB’s Northern Region 1 and the CIMI, key forums in the defense of indigenous peoples’ rights.
A New Era for CEAMA
His election as president of CEAMA represents a significant step in the continuity of the Church’s synodal process in the Amazon. His pastoral experience, his Franciscan identity, and his commitment to indigenous peoples strengthen the path toward a Church with an Amazonian face—one that is close to the people, prophetic, and rooted in the territories.
CEAMA thus begins a new phase, trusting in Cardinal Steiner’s leadership to continue advancing the evangelizing mission, the care of our Common Home, and the defense of life in the Amazon.
Continuity of the Synodal Process
Tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, as part of the Assembly, the election of the other members of the vice-presidency will take place, representing religious life, laypeople, and indigenous peoples.
This moment will continue the synodal discernment process that characterizes CEAMA, ensuring diverse and complementary representation that reflects the pluralistic face of the Church in the Amazon and strengthens its evangelizing, prophetic, and pro-life mission.