AMERICA/BRAZIL - CAM7: In 2029, the Brazilian Church will host the American Missionary Congress in Curitiba

Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) – After 34 years, the Church in Brazil will once again host the American Missionary Congress (CAM7). The Archdiocese of Curitiba, located in Paraná, southern Brazil, has been chosen as the site of the next congress, which will bring together missionaries from across the continent in November 2029. The previous edition was held in Puerto Rico in 2024.

The last time Brazil hosted a continental missionary congress was in 1995: at the time, it was called CAMLA 5 and took place in the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte. More than three decades later, the bishops of the Southern Region of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference have signed a letter requesting that their region be considered as the site of the next meeting. In Puerto Rico, the last edition brought together more than 1,500 missionaries from across the continent; the opening Mass drew more than 12,000 people.

The American Missionary Congresses aim to renew the missionary commitment “Ad Gentes” in the local Churches and are promoted by the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of the twenty-two countries of the American continent, in collaboration with the National Conference of Bishops of the host country.

“With the power of the Spirit, witnesses of Christ. This is what brought us together to celebrate CAM6 in Puerto Rico. And it is with the power of the Spirit that we will prepare for CAM7, which will be joyfully welcomed by the Archdiocese of Curitiba in November 2029,” said Sister Regina da Costa Pedro, director of the PMS Brazil.
Preparing the event and organizing the reception of the missionaries, Sister Regina added, “is a great gift, because it helps us grow as an outgoing missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, as Pope Leo invites us to do.”

Maurício Jardim, President of the Episcopal Commission for Missionary Action and Interecclesial Cooperation of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference, emphasized the importance of involving local Churches in the preparation process for CAM7: "I believe it will be a synodal experience in the construction process, involving various actors of evangelization in our country. The secret of the preparation lies in the process we intend to implement, not by reducing the Congress to a missionary event, but by making it an opportunity for missionary animation across all the Archdioceses, Dioceses, and Prelatures of our country."

Curitiba: A Meeting Point for Mission

Renowned for its quality of life, innovative urban planning, and strong environmental awareness, Curitiba combines development with sustainability and celebrates its rich cultural diversity. With a population of approximately 1.96 million (more than 3.6 million in its Metropolitan Region) the city is a multicultural hub enriched by significant European migration flows, which have influenced its traditions, cuisine, and architecture. The hospitality of its inhabitants and its renowned organizational capacity foster encounter, welcome, and the experience of the mission in its many forms.

The Archdiocese of Curitiba, the oldest in the state of Paraná, was founded on April 27, 1892, and elevated to archdiocese in 1926. With a solid ecclesiastical structure, it encompasses 11 municipalities and a population of nearly 3 million, of whom approximately 1.8 million are Catholic. Its clergy includes more than 460 priests, of whom 360 belong to religious congregations—41 male and 60 female. Priestly formation is a priority, with four archdiocesan seminaries. This extensive network includes 142 parishes and hundreds of communities, providing spaces for sharing missionary experiences and bearing witness to the faith.

Curitiba will offer CAM7 participants a complete experience. Beyond the religious aspect, the city invites visitors to discover its culture and natural beauty, with more than 40 parks and forests, including the emblematic Botanical Garden. Its lively cultural scene includes museums, theaters, fairs, and a rich gastronomic diversity. Curitiba is also an example of urban sustainability, with efficient recycling programs and incentives for non-polluting transportation, values that align with missionary responsibility.

The Archdiocese of Curitiba will not only host CAM7, but also a space that will deeply enrich all participants. It will offer a fertile environment to revive the missionary spirit Ad Gentes, promote fraternal encounter among diverse peoples, and renew the evangelizing commitment of every baptized person. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 27/7/2025)

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