The Archdiocese of Belém do Pará celebrated on May 1 its 120th anniversary of its elevation to Metropolitan See, commemorating a history deeply intertwined with evangelization, culture, and the lives of the Amazonian peoples.
Although the Archdiocese was officially established in 1906 by Pope Saint Pius X through the papal bull Sempiternum humani generis, its roots date back to the very beginnings of the city of Belém, founded in 1616 on the shores of Guajará Bay. Since then, the Church has accompanied the journey of the Amazonian peoples, traversing centuries of transformations, challenges, and hopes.
The first parish, dedicated to Our Lady of Grace, was established in 1617. Later, in 1719, Pope Clement XI created the Bishopric of Pará, separating it from the then Diocese of Maranhão, thereby granting ecclesial autonomy to the Amazon region. With this, Belém established itself as one of the main religious centers of northern Brazil.
The history of this local Church is also marked by reconstruction and resilience. The old mother church collapsed in 1714, but decades later construction began on a new Metropolitan Cathedral, whose architectural identity was enriched by the Italian architect Antônio Landi, making it one of the great spiritual and cultural symbols of the Amazon.
The spirituality of the Archdiocese is deeply marked by Marian devotion. Although Saint Mary of Belém is officially its patroness, the Amazonian people express a special devotion to Our Lady of Nazaré, known as the “Queen of the Amazon,” whose spiritual presence unites tradition, popular faith, and Amazonian identity.
Currently, the Archdiocese of Belém is present in five municipalities and carries out its pastoral mission through a broad network of communities, parishes, and episcopal regions. It has hundreds of priests, deacons, religious, and laypeople committed to evangelization, service to the poor, and care for our Common Home.
Under the guidance of B Bishop Julio Endi AkamineB , the Church of Belém reaffirms its commitment to being a disciple, missionary, prophetic, and merciful Church, deeply rooted in the Amazonian reality and open to the challenges of the present.
On the occasion of this anniversary, Archbishop Akamine delivered a message of thanksgiving, recalling that “the Church is not merely an institution or a structure, but the mystery of unity with Christ”. In his reflection, he highlighted the witness of generations of the faithful, missionaries, consecrated persons, and communities who kept the faith alive in the Amazon, often crossing rivers and jungles to proclaim the Gospel.
The archbishop also underscored the Church’s historic role in defending human dignity, education, health, service to the poorest, and the promotion of life in the Amazon region. Likewise, he renewed the call to continue building a Church committed to evangelization, social justice, and the integral care of creation.
The celebration of these 120 years thus becomes a sign of hope for the entire Amazon region, reminding us that faith remains the foundation, identity, and path for the Amazonian peoples.