From February 3 to 7, 2025, the Diocese of Coari hosted the Meeting of Bishops of the North Regional 1 of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB North 1), a key event for the Church in the Amazon. With the participation of 14 bishops, including titular, auxiliary and emeritus, the meeting was a space for reflection, prayer and fraternity, marked by collegiality and commitment to evangelization in this very challenging region.
A meeting of reflection and communion
Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, archbishop of Manaus and president of Regional North 1, highlighted that this meeting not only allowed relevant pastoral and social issues to be addressed, but was also a moment to strengthen communion among the bishops. “It is always a moment of growth for our region, to reflect on our churches and thus, with encouragement and hope, continue our path.”, stated the cardinal.
The host bishop, Mons. Marcos Piatek, expressed his joy at receiving the bishops in Coari and stressed that these meetings are opportunities for the exchange of experiences, fraternal experience and the strengthening of evangelizing work. “All this in a spirit of synodality, communion and co-responsibility, caring for human life and our Common Home”, stated the prelate.
Evangelization and Synodality in the Amazon
The meeting, which takes place annually in one of the regional dioceses, allowed the bishops to analyze the challenges of evangelization in the Amazon, a region characterized by its cultural and geographical diversity, as well as the social and ecological problems it faces. During the work sessions, topics such as the pastoral accompaniment of communities, the participation of lay people and the implementation of Church guidelines in Brazil were discussed.
Strengthening Collegiality and Pastoral Mission
The meeting was also an opportunity for the bishops to share their experiences and challenges in the exercise of their ministry. Mons. Zenildo Lima, auxiliary bishop of Manaus and vice president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), highlighted that the meeting allowed us to delve deeper into the realities of each diocese and strengthen pastoral accompaniment. “Love needs concreteness, presence and encounter”, recalled the bishop, emphasizing the importance of joint work for evangelization in the region.
The bishops also confirmed their participation in the next meeting of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), which will take place in Bogotá in August of this year. This meeting will be key to continue advancing on the synodal path of the Amazonian churches and reaffirm their commitment to the defense of the peoples and territories of the region.
Commitment and Hope to the future
This meeting in Coari reaffirmed the commitment of the bishops of the Northern Regional 1 with a synodal Church, close to the communities and attentive to the needs of the Amazon. In a world marked by uncertainties, the call is clear: to continue walking with hope, in communion and co-responsibility, strengthening the evangelizing mission in this land of cultural wealth and pastoral challenges.