CELAM at 70: A Church of the continent listening together

Q: Archbishop J, what is CELAM? Why is it important?

From May 25 to 30, the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) celebrated its 70th anniversary in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bishops from across the continent—cardinals, archbishops and general secretaries of Episcopal Conferences—gathered at the site where it all began: Colégio Sagrado Coração de Maria in Copacabana. It was a deeply moving and joyful celebration, one of prayer, memory, discernment, and listening.

But why is CELAM important? And what does it mean for us in the Caribbean?

To understand CELAM, we must grasp how the Church is structured; how it breathes in circles of communion, from the family to the global Church. These levels of belonging are not mere bureaucratic divisions; they are sacred spaces where the Spirit is at work, forming and reforming the Body of Christ.

The Church in circles

The Church exists in concentric circles of community and communion. The first and most basic is the domestic Church—the family, where faith is born and nurtured.

Beyond the family lies the parish, with its ministries and movements; and beyond the parish, clusters where neighbouring parishes collaborate pastorally. Several clusters form a vicariate, each overseen by a vicar who acts with delegated authority from the bishop.

A group of vicariates forms a diocese, and several dioceses make up an ecclesiastical province, with a leading diocese known as the metropolitan archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of Port of Spain is the metropolitan See for Georgetown, Paramaribo, Willemstad, and Bridgetown. Together, they form the Province of Port of Spain.

At the next level, several provinces form an episcopal conference. Ours is the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC)—comprising five provinces (Port of Spain, Castries, Fort-de-France, Kingston, and Nassau), 19 territories, two missions, and 18 bishops ministering across the English, French, and Dutch Caribbean.

And then comes CELAM—the great home of all the Episcopal Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean. It includes Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and every country from Mexico to Argentina. Together, we form the ecclesial heart of the American continent.

These circles of belonging matter. They shape how the Church listens, responds, and grows. They reflect the mystery of the Church as communion—many parts, one body.

From local to universal: A Vatican II vision

Before Vatican II, the local Church was often seen as a part of the whole, secondary to the universal Church. But the Council introduced a profound theological shift.

As Fr Joseph Komonchak explains, the local Church is not simply a branch or subdivision. It is a full realisation of the one, holy, Catholic Church:

The one and universal Church is manifest in and through the variety of local churches; rather than as ‘part’ of some pre-existing ‘whole’ they are local realisations of all that the one Church is, and it is in them and out of them that the one and holy Catholic Church comes to exist. (Komonchak, 1987)

CELAM is one of the clearest continental expressions of this renewed vision of the Church.

A pilgrimage of memory and mission

Returning to the site of CELAM’s first gathering in 1955 was an act of gratitude and hope. That original meeting took place before the Second Vatican Council, before the independence of many of our nations, and long before air travel was routine.

Yet those bishops came together to speak about the region, to dream, and to discern a path forward. It was the beginning of a new way of being Church on the continent.

At this year’s celebration, each Episcopal Conference shared the key realities shaping their nations. It was sobering and unifying. While each country has its own context, many common themes emerged—what Pope Francis might call the “cries of the people and of the earth”.

Signs of the times: shared challenges

We heard about the rupture of social structures, caused by organised crime, drug and gun trafficking, and corruption. Climate change and illegal mining were highlighted, especially the staggering rate of deforestation in the Amazon. Youth unemployment, migration, and the deterioration of education, housing, and judicial systems are pressing concerns.

The gathering lamented the growing inequality, erosion of human rights, and the fragility of democratic institutions. Yet amid the sorrow, a strong commitment emerged: the Church must remain present in the heart of these struggles, offering hope and calling people to pastoral conversion, as builders of justice, dialogue, and social peace. I sensed this deeply over lunch with two bishops from Haiti. Their narrative is one of lament and hope, inviting us to solidarity.

Synodality: a grace for our time

The most hopeful refrain of the week was synodality—the grace of walking together. The Church in Latin America and the Caribbean has embraced this as a spiritual and pastoral way of being.

Inspired by the Synod on the Amazon, also a CELAM initiative, we are learning to listen more deeply to the cries of the poor and to act in ways that reflect Christ’s compassion and nearness.

A strong call for the ongoing formation of priests, religious, and laypeople emerged, especially as Catholic numbers decline in some regions. We must invest in forming missionary disciples who can witness in a changing world.

From Medellín to Aparecida: a living tradition

CELAM has not only responded to the signs of the times; it has helped shape the direction of the universal Church. Four continental assemblies have preceded last week’s celebrations:

• Medellín (1968): Introduced the preferential option for the poor, a revolutionary pastoral shift.
• Puebla (1979): Deepened reflection on mission and justice.
• Santo Domingo (1992): Reflected on 500 years of evangelisation.
• Aparecida (2007): Called the Church to missionary discipleship and renewal.

Each gathering has marked a significant moment. They have inspired global pastoral practice. Liberation theology, with its gifts and challenges, was born here. A Church rooted in context, dialogue, and discernment was cultivated here.

CELAM and the Papacy: a source church

Pope Francis himself was formed by CELAM. His leadership at Aparecida laid the foundation for the vision that shaped his papacy. As a son of CELAM, he brought the pastoral experience of Latin America to the heart of the Church.

And CELAM continues to shape leaders. Bishop Robert Francis Prevost, a former CELAM bishop, became the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and now Pope Leo XIV.

Remarkably, two popes have emerged from CELAM. It has become not only a pastoral body, but a theological and missionary source for the global Church.

The Redeemer presides over us

The week ended with a visit to Christ the Redeemer, the great statue that stands over Rio de Janeiro. It was a fitting and powerful close. As we gathered at His feet, we were reminded of the One who leads this Church, not from a distant throne, but from the cross, with arms outstretched over the nations.

Despite the darkness on the missionary path, it is Christ who redeems, renews, and calls us forward. CELAM at 70 is not only a moment to remember, but also a moment to recommit to a Church that listens, discerns, and walks humbly with her people.

Key Message:

We in the Caribbean are part of CELAM, and it has had a profound impact on us in many significant ways. It has also shaped the universal Church through shaping the pastoral imagination of the last two popes.

Action Step:

Reflect on your participation in the Church. Reflect on all the different levels and layers in which we are invited to participate.

Scripture Reading:

Ephesians 4:16