CELAM Archives

Francis to Latin American Church: Look to youth, women & laity
- Pope in Colombia
- September 7, 2017
In an address to the leaders of Latin America’s continent-wide church council, CELAM, Pope Francis urged them to take forward Aparecida’s ‘continental mission’ by expanding the role of young people, women and lay people. Only well-formed lay believers could rise to the continent’s challenges.
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Venezuelan president accuses bishops of ignoring Pope Francis
- Global Church
- May 15, 2017
Nicolas Maduro, the successor to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, has accused his country’s bishops of ignoring Pope Francis’s call for dialogue by refusing to take part in an effort to rewrite the national constitution. Maduro himself, however, appears to be ignoring a call from the pope’s top aide to permit new elections.
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Latin American bishops appeal for aid for food-short Venezuela
- Catholic News Service, Global Church
- May 14, 2017
Concerns about the health and well-being of Venezuelans are now of paramount concern to the bishops of CELAM (the Latin Americas bishops’ council.) There have been violent protests and shortages of food and medical supplies since the president caused a political crisis by expanding his personal power.
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In the shadow of Romero, Latin American Church renews call to mission

A major assembly of bishops from the 22 member nations of Latin America’s council, CELAM, opens today in El Salvador. The shadow of Blessed Oscar Romero, the slain archbishop set to be canonized soon, hangs over the meeting — along with a strong sense that this is a favorable time for the continent.

Can a witness to mercy unite the Americas?

Maybe hope is to be found in a prayerful unity that re-proposes the joy of the Gospel, as Pope Francis would put it, in countercultural living as a continental Christian community. That doesn’t require more meetings for discussion, but prayer and action – in that order — now.