CELAM bishops sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV, expressing joy at his election and gratitude for his telegram. The bishops see Pope Leo's election as a sign of hope and affirm their commitment to serving as a missionary Church. The letter renews their full communion with the Pope and highlights their commitment to serving as a missionary Church. The CELAM bishops are commemorating the 70th anniversary of the First General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate in Rio de Janeiro in 1955.
9 days ago
The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) has conveyed its heartfelt joy and gratitude to Pope Leo XIV following his election as the 266th Successor to St. Peter 1. This message was delivered in a letter marking CELAM's 40th Ordinary General Assembly 1. The bishops expressed their belief that Pope Leo's election is a "sign of hope," building upon the work of Pope Francis 1. They also affirmed their commitment to serving as a missionary and synodal Church 1.
CELAM's letter also drew attention to the challenging sociopolitical realities facing Latin America and the Caribbean 1. The bishops specifically mentioned armed conflict, drug trafficking, and forced migration as issues impacting families and communities 1. They requested Pope Leo's "prophetic voice to inspire justice and peace" and asked him to remember the region in his prayers 1. The letter highlighted the plight of migrants, Indigenous peoples, youth, and women, all awaiting words and gestures of comfort and liberation 1.
Concluding their message, the CELAM bishops extended a formal invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit Latin America and the Caribbean 1. They emphasized that the people of the region long for his presence and apostolic blessing 1.
The Church's missionary mandate transcends specific historical contexts.
The Church's missionary mandate is a direct command from Jesus Christ to his followers to spread the Gospel to all nations . This mandate is rooted in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, where Jesus instructs his disciples to preach, baptize, and teach in his name .
The missionary mandate is derived from the Great Commission, found in the Gospels:
The Church understands this command as a fundamental aspect of its identity and mission, which is to evangelize and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all people . The Church strives to preach the Gospel to all, in obedience to Christ's command . The Church's evangelizing mission includes announcing the Good News, witnessing, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching . The mission of evangelization is a continuation of the work desired by the Lord Jesus and is necessary for the Church, expressing its very nature .
True evangelization requires the explicit proclamation of Jesus as Lord . Pope Paul VI emphasized that there is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the Kingdom, and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, are not proclaimed .
The Church's missionary mandate is a timeless and universal call to spread the Gospel, rooted in the direct commands of Jesus Christ and essential to the Church's nature and mission .