SECAM: Latin America’s Archbishop, Urges Climate Action at SECAM Assembly
A section of Bishops at SECAM's Plenary Assembly
By Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
At the 20th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), that is on-going in Kigali, Rwanda, Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, highlighted the importance of continued collaboration among the Churches of the Global South; Africa, Asia, and Latin America in addressing global challenges, particularly the urgent need for climate justice.
Quoting the theme of the 20th SECAM plenary, ‘The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace,’ the Metropolitan Archbishop of Panama and Second Vice President of the Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano (CELAM), raised concern for Climate Justice and care for the Common Home urging world leaders to take concrete and decisive action at the upcoming COP-30, to be held in November at Belém, Brazil.
Speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), the member of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) brought warm greetings from the 22 Episcopal Conferences across the continent, emphasizing CELAM’s appreciation for being part of 2oth plenary assembly.
“We are filled with joy and gratitude to be present at this assembly held in Kigali, a land that holds in its heart both pain and hope, and from where the testimony of a living, resilient, and deeply rooted Church in the Gospel arises”.
The Archbishop recalled SECAM’s invitation of Latin American Bishops at its 2022 Plenary Assembly in Accra, Ghana, and acknowledged the mutual exchange of experiences and insights, especially CELAM’s journey through the First Ecclesial Assembly.
Sharing about CELAM’s 70th anniversary, that was celebrated on July 25th, 2025, as a moment to reflect on its rich legacy shaped by the Second Vatican Council, from Medellín (1968) to Puebla (1979), to Santo Domingo (1992), and Aparecida (2007), the Archbishop noted that through CELAM they have “recognize the present era, not only as an era of changes but as a true change of era.”
According to Archbishop Ulloa, the 2019 CELAM assembly which he described was a moment of renewal and restructuring of CELAM, gave birth to its organized structure, “See-Judge-Act, which gave rise to four Pastoral Centers”.
He narrated, “To Judge the reality in the light of the signs of the times, the Biblical Theological Pastoral Center (CEBITEPAL). To Act the Center for Networks and Pastoral Action (CEPRAP) that works with the ecclesial networks of the various specific pastorals of the Continent, and as a Transversal center, the Center for Communication (CPC).”
He further shared that CELAM’s Global Pastoral Plan focuses on three major axes; “Integral Human Development and Integral Ecology, which includes social, cultural, and ecological dreams; itinerary of the missionary disciples that includes the pastoral care of catechesis, vocations, youth, laity, family, education, and culture and others, and CELAM as a School of synodality in the Continent through the establishment of four continental regions: CAMEX (Central America and Mexico), the Caribbean, the Bolivarian Region (Andean nations), and the Southern Cone.”
Archbishop Ulloa also acknowledged CELAM’s collaboration with various ecclesial organizations such as CLAR (Conference of Religious of Latin America), Caritas, and REPAM (Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network).
He passionately underscored the historic and spiritual ties that unite Latin America and Africa saying, “Our continents are sister Churches, bound by a history of suffering and hope, resistance and faith.” And further noted the presence of over 200 million people of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Augustinian Prelate called for missionary fraternity, one that goes beyond preserving old structures, to embracing the Spirit towards new expressions of the Kingdom of God in today’s globalized world.
“It is urgent. We need to walk together as a disciple and missionary Church, led by the Spirit toward new ways of incarnating the Gospel,” he said.
In conclusion, the Prelate expressed hope that the encounter of the ongoing 20th Plenary Assembly of SECAM would serve as a seed for deeper pastoral collaboration, mutual learning, and global ecclesial solidarity.
He called on the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, and the holy African martyrs to accompany the Church’s journey as a Samaritan, incarnate, serving, and prophetic Church.
