Welcome to the 61st edition of Brazil’s Campaign for Fraternity, where Pope Francis urges the country’s Catholic community to embark on a journey of inner conversion while addressing the pressing ecological crisis of our time.
By Vatican News
For over six decades, the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil has been spearheading an annual initiative known as the Campaign for Fraternity. Each year during Lent, this campaign focuses on a specific theme, with this year’s being “Fraternity and Integral Ecology.”
The theme for 2023 emphasizes the importance of embracing a process of “integral conversion, listening to the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth.”
A Decade of Climate Advocacy
On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis released a message expressing his solidarity with the Brazilian Catholic community and commending the bishops for launching this edition of the Campaign for Fraternity.
He lauds the bishops’ call for everyone to embark on a path of conversion during Lent based on his encyclical, Laudato Si’, published a decade ago, along with the Apostolic Exhortation, Laudate Deum. These documents underscore the urgent need for a profound inner conversion in response to the current ecological crisis (Laudato Si’, 217).
Recalling the words of Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis emphasizes the necessity of promoting and supporting “ecological conversion,” which heightens humanity’s sensitivity to the Earth’s care.
Taking Action
Brazil, a country blessed with the highest biodiversity of native plant and animal species on the planet, places great importance on environmental protection. This fall, Brazil will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP30 in Belém do Pará, at the heart of the Amazon.
In light of this, Pope Francis underscores the significance of the 2025 Campaign for Fraternity, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to fostering global collaboration in addressing the climate crisis and preserving the wonders of Creation.
The Pope’s message expresses his hope that the Campaign will serve as a powerful tool for the people and communities of Brazil, guiding them in their tangible efforts towards integral ecology.
