The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) and the Ministry of Education (MEC) have announced a partnership to provide professional qualification to over 30,000 people across Brazil. The project, called Capacita em Rede, originated from the 2022 Fraternity Campaign and aims to reach remote areas through the Church's network. Representatives from the MEC visited the CNBB headquarters in Brasília on November 3 to confirm a 3 million real investment for 2027. Since its inception, the initiative has delivered 1,270 courses in 295 municipalities, targeting vulnerable groups such as migrants, indigenous people, and those experiencing homelessness. The program integrates technical training with social doctrine principles, supported by various church pastoral groups.
The III National Seminar on Popular Missions started on Friday in Sobradinho, Brasilia, Brazil. Organized by the CNBB, the event gathers missionaries and church leaders until Sunday. The theme is based on a Gospel passage about crossing to the other side. Activities include conferences, prayer, and discussions on mission identity and contemporary challenges. Bishop Paolo Andreolli and Father Jose Valdo dos Santos are key figures. The seminar aims to deepen the understanding of popular missions as a continuous process rather than isolated events. It concludes with a Mass on All Saints' Day.
The Pontifical Missionary Works held a thanksgiving Mass in Brazil on October 28 to mark Mission Month and the centenary of World Mission Day. The celebration was presided over by Ricardo Hoepers, auxiliary bishop of Brasilia and CNBB secretary-general. The event highlighted the theme chosen by Pope Leo XVI, emphasizing unity in mission. The centenary commemorates the 1926 institution of the day by Pope Pius XI. Sister Regina da Costa Pedro and other clergy emphasized the importance of synergy and communal responsibility in spreading the faith. The gathering included collaborators from various missionary centers and concluded with a celebratory lunch.
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The Episcopal Commission for Missionary Action of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) has started a listening process to prepare the National Missionary Year, scheduled from November 2028 to November 2029. This initiative aims to involve dioceses and communities in shaping a project that strengthens missionary awareness across the country. The event supports the upcoming 7th American Missionary Congress in Curitiba. Dom Maurício da Silva Jardim, commission president, invites local churches to submit proposals by February 28, 2027, to help plan the national strategy for evangelization and synodal cooperation. The CNBB says this effort seeks to engage all baptized faithful, particularly in peripheral areas.
An emeritus bishop in Brazil argues that Catholic solidarity must transcend borders to support vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. He suggests that Latin America and Europe should collaborate to aid these regions facing resource scarcity and isolation. The proposal includes establishing direct partnerships between parishes, sharing professional skills, and promoting microfinance projects. This approach aims to transform aid into community empowerment and foster a universal sense of fraternity within the Church. The article emphasizes concrete actions over abstract empathy to strengthen the global Catholic network.
On October 16, Ricardo Hoepers, auxiliary bishop of Brasilia and CNBB secretary general, received a delegation from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Brazil. The group included Bishop Thomas Mar Ivanios, priest George Hatcher, and several priests serving in Brazilian missions. The visit aimed to strengthen ties and foster dialogue between the churches. CNBB officials described the meeting as fraternal and focused on mutual respect. Both sides committed to continuing their shared mission of evangelization and expanding dialogue with bishops where the Malankara Church operates. The church, based in India, is an independent Oriental Orthodox body.
The Catholic Church in the Americas is preparing for the 7th American Missionary Congress (CAM7), scheduled for November 2029 in Curitiba, Brazil. The Pontifical Missionary Works recently unveiled the event's visual identity, which integrates indigenous art with Christian symbols. Meanwhile, the CNBB Southern Region 2 has launched a three-year missionary preparation plan for the state of Paraná. This initiative, running from 2027 to 2029, aims to strengthen missionary awareness through family visits and community outreach, culminating in the national mission year leading up to the congress. The CNBB states these efforts align with the theme of a church on the move.
The Brazilian Episcopal Commission for Sociotransformative Action (Cepast) of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) has made available support materials for the 10th World Day of the Poor. The event takes place in Brazil from November 8 to 15, 2026. The initiative aims to shift focus from charity to structural social justice. The CNBB says the materials include liturgical suggestions and data on poverty. This approach emphasizes listening to vulnerable populations and promoting housing rights. The campaign aligns with Pope Francis's call for the Church to recognize the poor as protagonists of their own history.
The Special Commission for the Fight against Human Trafficking (CEETH) of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) held a virtual meeting on October 15 to celebrate a decade of work. The event highlighted the group's ongoing mission to combat human exploitation across the country. Participants, including bishops and activists, honored deceased leaders like Henriqueta Cavalcante and Bishop Enemésio Ângelo Lazzaris. The commission emphasized prevention, spiritual inspiration from Saint Bakhita, and the need to address digital recruitment. This celebration opens a commemorative cycle extending into 2027, aiming to strengthen public policies and regional networks against trafficking.
The Permanent Council of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) reviewed a new study on the effects of incarceration on families in Brazil. The meeting took place in Brasilia on October 21. The research, titled 'The Sentence Without Verdict', was presented by the National Prison Pastoral and Maria Felipa Popular Assistance. It highlights economic and social hardships, noting that families spend billions annually on visits. Bishop Henrique Aparecido de Lima and Cardinal Jaime Spengler emphasized the need for better prison conditions and public policies to support affected relatives, particularly women.
Representatives of the Clamor Brazil Network met with the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) in Brasília on October 6 to advance legal protocols and financial sustainability. Auxiliary Bishop Nereudo Freire Henrique highlighted new collaborations with universities like PUC Rio and Unb to support their work. The group is also preparing for the 2027 Fraternity Campaign focused on refugee children. The meeting included dialogue with CNBB Secretary-General Ricardo Hoepers, signaling strong institutional support for protecting migrants and combating human trafficking in Brazil. The network coordinates 27 organizations dedicated to these causes.
The Afro-Brazilian Pastoral of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) will organize the 30th Pilgrimage of Black Communities to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida on November 7, 2026. Archbishop Zanoni Demettino Castro of Feira de Santana highlighted the event's theme, which focuses on the inviolable dignity of Black people as living images of God. The gathering aims to renew faith and combat racism, recognized as a social sin. Father Carlos Ébano Costa da Silva noted the event promotes racial equality and inclusion. The pilgrimage kicks off Black Consciousness Month celebrations, with the main Mass scheduled for noon and broadcast on TV Aparecida. Organizers are coordinating with dioceses in the South 1 region.
Padre Paolo Parise, a Vatican official from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, visited the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) in Brasília from September 28 to 30. He attended an annual meeting of bishops overseeing social, anti-trafficking, and ecological commissions. Parise expressed admiration for the vitality of the Brazilian Church and its commitment to human rights. He highlighted the Church's response to approximately 2.5 million migrants and refugees, noting spiritual integration efforts. The priest, who served in Brazil for 28 years, emphasized Pope Leo’s focus on human dignity and the Church's welcoming approach to faith.
The Catholic Church in Brazil has raised R$ 2,921,575.76 through the 'SOS Venezuela' campaign to aid families affected by recent earthquakes. According to the CNBB, these funds will be transferred to Cáritas Venezuela to support reconstruction efforts. The disaster, which struck in June, caused thousands of deaths and displaced over a million people, as reported by UN data. Archbishop Mário Antônio of Aparecida confirmed the money will help rebuild homes and restore livelihoods, ensuring no political or individual gain. The initiative involved multiple Brazilian religious and humanitarian organizations responding to the humanitarian crisis.
Twenty representatives from the Catholic Church in Brazil participated in the International Missiology Symposium held in Chile from September 24 to 27, 2026. The event gathered 65 delegates from 19 countries near the Sanctuary of Lo Vásquez in Casablanca. Organized under the theme of churches on mission at the borders, the gathering aimed to prepare for the 7th American Missionary Congress scheduled for 2029 in Curitiba, Brazil. Speakers, including Archbishop José Antônio Peruzzo and Bishop Maurício da Silva Jardim, emphasized the need for authentic evangelization, theological coherence, and a focus on Christ within the context of synodality. The symposium served as a preparatory step for the upcoming continental congress.
The Governing Council of the National Solidarity Fund (FNS) met on September 21 to review applications for the 2026 Fraternity Campaign. The council approved 60 projects focused on dignified housing, allocating more than 2.3 million Brazilian reais. This brings the total approved funding from three meetings to over 5 million reais. The approved initiatives support emergency aid, construction, and awareness regarding housing rights. Father Jean Poul, a campaign advisor, emphasized the importance of aligning proposals with the theme. The final evaluation phase will conclude in November, with further voting scheduled for November 23. The campaign aims to support social causes through the National Solidarity Collection.
The Brazilian Episcopal Conference for Missionary Action will organize the Third National Seminar on Popular Missions in Brasília from October 30 to November 1, 2026. Held at the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida parish in Sobradinho I, the event aims to revive the country's missionary heritage and plan new evangelization paths. Coordinator Friar Anderson Teodoro Aguiar da Silva explains that popular missions represent a continuous process of the Church engaging with people. The gathering invites religious congregations, dioceses, and lay missionaries to participate in a program focused on fraternity and discernment. Registration is digital, with fees covering accommodation and meals provided by local community families.
The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) has publicly supported the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) in its request for the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to resume and conclude the judgment regarding Resolution 2.378/2024. This medical regulation prohibits fetal assistolia, a procedure involving the injection of drugs to stop the fetal heart, in pregnancies resulting from rape after 22 weeks. CNBB President Cardinal Jaime Spengler stated that the Church defends the inviolable right to life regardless of political context. The CFM argues the resolution is constitutionally valid and ethically necessary, while the Socialist Party and Liberty (PSol) had previously sought its suspension. The case is now pending before the STF Plenary.
The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) launched the 2026 Fraternity Campaign, focusing on the theme of fraternity and housing. The initiative aims to address inadequate living conditions by mobilizing churches and the government. The National Solidarity Fund approved over 2 million reais for 50 projects, including construction and emergency aid. A key development is a cooperation protocol between the CNBB and the Presidency of Brazil to improve access to housing programs. Regional actions include new laws in Goiás and parish mobilization efforts in Belo Horizonte, highlighting the link between housing and human dignity.
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