More than five years after its creation, the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) is experiencing a moment of special maturity and projection. This was expressed by its president, Cardinal Pedro Barreto, in a recent interview with Vatican News, in which he shared the progress, challenges, and hopes of this ecclesial body born of the Synod for the Amazon and promoted by Pope Francis.
From Rome, Cardinal Barreto emphasized that CEAMA is going through a decisive stage of consolidation, marked by the explicit support of Pope Leo XIV, who is continuing the dream of a Church with an Amazonian face, deeply rooted in the territory and committed to its peoples.
Fruits of a synodal journey
For the president of CEAMA, the current moment is the expression of a process that has been bearing concrete fruit. “We are seeing how this dream is becoming a reality,” he said, emphasizing that the Conference was born in 2020 in response to Pope Francis’ call for a Church that listens, discerns, and walks alongside the Amazonian peoples, especially the poorest and most forgotten.
The cardinal also recalled the close accompaniment of the late Cardinal Claudio Hummes, who from the beginning insisted on putting the peripheries and the most vulnerable at the center. Today, that spirit continues to animate the journey of CEAMA, strengthened by the joy and hope that characterize this new stage.
Two pontificates, one vision
Pope Leo XIV is familiar with the CEAMA process and the reality of the Amazon. Before his election as Pontiff, he was Pope Francis’ delegate to accompany the Presidency of the Conference, which has allowed for a natural and profound continuity in the journey.
As Cardinal Barreto explained, the Holy Father has not only expressed his support for the project, but also a special interest in strengthening it institutionally, ensuring its sustainability and long-term projection, without losing its synodal identity or autonomy.
Towards the institutionalization of CEAMA
In this context, Pope Leo XIV has entrusted the Dicastery for Integral Human Development with accompanying the process of institutionalizing CEAMA. This path includes the creation of an endowment fund to guarantee the economic stability of the organization and enable it to respond permanently to the pastoral, social, and environmental challenges of the Amazon.
This step, Barreto emphasized, seeks to consolidate a solid structure at the service of a living Church that is close to and committed to defending the life, territory, and dignity of the Amazonian peoples.
A time of grace for the Amazonian Church
Cardinal Barreto defined this moment as a true “time of grace,” where continuity is expressed through novelty. Pope Leo XIV’s fidelity to the Second Vatican Council, his closeness to Pope Francis’ vision, and his direct knowledge of the Amazonian territory—especially Peru—strengthen confidence in the path undertaken by CEAMA.
Looking to the future
Looking to the immediate future, CEAMA is preparing for a key moment: the Elective Assembly to be held next March in Bogotá, where its presidency will be renewed in accordance with the statutes approved by the Holy See. Although there will be a change in personnel, Cardinal Barreto assured that the process will continue with the same orientation, spirit, and ecclesial commitment.
An eloquent sign of this consolidation was the assembly of Amazonian bishops held last August in Bogotá, which brought together 95 of the more than 115 bishops in the region. This broad participation confirmed that CEAMA today occupies a central place both in the life of the Church and in the hearts of its pastors.
With serenity and hope, the president of CEAMA concluded by pointing out that, although the journey continues and the challenges are great, the path is clearly laid out. With the support of two pontiffs and the commitment of the Amazonian Church, CEAMA is establishing itself as a living expression of synodality and of the Church’s commitment to the Amazon and its peoples.