With a message of closeness, communion, and ecclesial fraternity, Bishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera, Secretary General of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Conference (CELAM), welcomed the participants of the Sixth General Assembly of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), being held in Bogotá.
In his address, directed at cardinals, bishops, religious men and women, laypeople, as well as representatives of the Amazonian peoples, the CELAM Secretary General expressed his joy at hosting this important ecclesial gathering at the headquarters of the Latin American episcopal body.
“With deep joy, we welcome you to this House of CELAM, which is also your home,” he affirmed, noting that the presence of delegations from various Amazonian territories reflects the face of a Church that walks together, meets, listens, and discerns in common.
The Amazon, a prophetic sign for the Church
Bishop Estrada emphasized that the Amazon holds a special place in the life of the Church and recalled that the process initiated with the 2019 Synod for the Amazon continues to bear fruit thanks to the commitment of the communities living and serving in this vast territory.
On this journey, he noted, the creation of CEAMA represents a concrete sign of a more synodal Church, close to the people and committed to the care of creation.
Inspired by the magisterium of Pope Francis, this ecclesial process has made it possible to strengthen new forms of pastoral presence in the region, fostering a Church that listens to the realities of the territory and accompanies the lives of the Amazonian peoples.
Communion between CELAM and the Amazonian Church
The secretary general of CELAM also expressed the closeness and support of the Latin American episcopal body to this ecclesial process, emphasizing that the Amazon is not merely a geographical region, but a space of learning for the entire Church.
“The Amazon is also a prophetic sign for the universal Church, a space where we learn new ways of being Church, of walking with the indigenous peoples, of caring for life, and of proclaiming the Gospel with an Amazonian face.”
In this sense, he reaffirmed CELAM’s commitment to continue accompanying the pastoral journey of the Amazonian Church and to strengthen communion among the Churches of the continent.
A space for fraternity, prayer, and discernment
Finally, Bishop Estrada expressed the hope that the CELAM headquarters would be for the participants not only a place of work, but also a space for fraternal and spiritual encounter.
“This house aims to offer you not only a physical space for your work, but also an atmosphere of fraternity, prayer, and discernment.”
The Secretary General invited the participants to experience these days of the Assembly as a fruitful time of mutual listening, sincere dialogue, and openness to the Holy Spirit, trusting that this gathering will be a moment of grace for the Church in the Amazon and for the entire Church in Latin America and the Caribbean.
With this message of welcome and ecclesial communion, CELAM reaffirms its commitment to walk alongside CEAMA in building a synodal, missionary Church with an Amazonian face, at the service of the peoples and the care of our Common Home.