The Casa de Acolhimento da Toca de Assis in Sete Lagoas, Brazil, installed a solar photovoltaic system funded by the 2025 Fraternity Campaign. According to project leader Fabrício Santos Muniz Pereira, the initiative lowers electricity expenses, allowing the shelter to redirect savings toward food, hygiene, and health services for homeless individuals. The project directly benefits 70 people and indirectly reaches 150 others. It also includes educational activities on ecology and solidarity. The funds came from the National Solidarity Fund, supporting the campaign's theme of integral ecology. The 2026 campaign will focus on housing rights.
The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) interviewed Frei Marcelo Guimarães, coordinator of the Housing and Favela Pastoral, regarding the ongoing struggle for dignified housing in Brazil. He explained that historical exclusion and land concentration contribute to a severe deficit, with approximately 6 million families needing immediate assistance. The interview also discussed the 2026 Fraternity Campaign theme and the upcoming National Solidarity Collection in March. The pastoral aims to expand its network to 300 teams across dioceses to support vulnerable communities and advocate for public housing policies. According to the outlet, these efforts seek to address urban inequality and improve living conditions in peripheral areas.
The National Solidarity Fund is supporting a sustainability initiative at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Penha in João Pessoa, Brazil. The project, titled “Green is our nature,” involves installing a photovoltaic energy system to reduce electricity costs and support pastoral activities. With a total investment of 35,000 Brazilian reais, the installation is scheduled between October 2025 and February 2026. According to the CNBB, the project aims to benefit approximately 5,000 direct users and 50,000 indirect participants in religious and community events. This effort aligns with the 2025 Fraternity Campaign’s focus on energy transition and ecological care. The funding stems from the National Solidarity Collection, which supports social projects across the country.
The Casa de Apoio Nossa Senhora das Graças in São José de Mipibu, Brazil, installed a solar energy system to support its 28 residents. Funded by the National Solidarity Fund in 2025, the project allows the shelter to operate more electrical equipment, including air conditioning and physiotherapy devices. Project coordinator Jane Martins de Lima Nunes states this infrastructure upgrade significantly enhances the quality of life for the elderly, many of whom suffer from serious health conditions. The initiative aligns with national goals for alternative energy and economic transition, ensuring better care for vulnerable seniors in the Rio Grande do Norte region.
The Pontifical Missionary Works, in communion with the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, presented the visual identity for the 2026 Mission Campaign. This year marks the centenary of World Mission Day. The new logo celebrates the campaign's 50th anniversary, featuring a cross and a globe. The poster highlights theological pillars, including care for creation and diverse peoples. The campaign culminates in October 2026, with collections supporting the Universal Fund for Solidarity to aid needy regions globally. The initiative aims to strengthen missionary commitment and community unity.
The Brazilian Episcopal Conference (CNBB) released the 2026 Fraternity Campaign theme, focusing on the lack of dignified housing in Brazil. Bishop Geraldo dos Reis Maia of Araçuaí states the campaign urges Christians to overcome individualism and address social injustices. Citing data from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, the text notes that nearly 328,000 people are homeless and millions of families live in inadequate conditions. The document calls for concrete actions, including public policy advocacy and community solidarity, to ensure housing rights for all Brazilians.
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The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil issued a statement on February 24 expressing sorrow over the heavy rains in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The tragedy, which began on February 23, has caused 23 deaths and left at least 440 people homeless in cities including Juiz de Fora and Ubá. The CNBB offered condolences to the victims' families and specifically to Archbishop-elect Marco Aurélio Gubiotti and Apostolic Administrator Gil Antônio Moreira of the Juiz de Fora archdiocese. The statement emphasized solidarity and mutual support during the Lenten season. The note was signed by CNBB President Cardinal Jaime Spengler and other bishops.
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Bishop Pedro Cipollini of Santo André, Brazil, highlights the Catholic Church’s Fraternity Campaign theme, “Fraternity and Housing.” He argues that shelter is a fundamental human right, not a commodity, citing biblical foundations and the Constitution. The bishop notes that over 300,000 people live on the streets in Brazil, while six million families lack housing. He attributes this crisis to land speculation and economic exclusion. Cipollini urges the faithful to move beyond individual charity toward social conversion and public policies that ensure dignity for all, reflecting Jesus’ own experience of being born without a home.
The Catholic-Lutheran Bilateral Dialogue Commission held its regular meeting on February 26 at the IECLB headquarters in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Representatives from both churches gathered to deepen cooperation and reinforce their shared commitment to ecumenism. Dom Rodolfo Luís Weber, Archbishop of Passo Fundo, attended the session. The agenda included sharing updates on pastoral initiatives and local activities to foster mutual understanding. Participants also focused on planning future actions, setting study themes and scheduling upcoming meetings. The group emphasized that this commission serves as a concrete tool for dialogue, highlighting the importance of Christian unity and joint faith witness in society.
The Parish of Saint Joseph of the Islands in Cametá, Brazil, used funding from the National Solidarity Fund to organize communities against the Araguaia-Tocantins waterway. Led by Father Javé de Oliveira Silva, the initiative raised awareness about socio-environmental impacts on riverside populations. Activities included meetings, biblical circles, and school visits throughout 2025. The group claims the mobilization contributed to revoking a decree on river privatization. Father Javé was invited to Brasília to discuss Amazon river defense, highlighting the project's national reach and success in strengthening local ecological consciousness.
The National Bishops' Conference of Brazil (CNBB) has announced the 2026 Fraternity Campaign theme, focusing on housing and territory rights. Bishop Geraldo dos Reis Maia of Araçuaí, Minas Gerais, explains that the initiative aims to promote dignified housing as a fundamental right. The campaign highlights the conflict between traditional communities and agribusiness or mining interests that invade territories. CNBB leaders state that the lack of shelter reflects social exclusion and calls for integral conversion to protect human dignity and the common good throughout Brazil.
Translated from PortuguêsAlso reported by 1 other outlet
The Brazilian Episcopal Conference (CNBB) announced that the 2026 Fraternity Campaign will address the right to dignified housing. Established in 1962 by Bishop Eugênio de Araújo Sales, the initiative mobilizes Catholic communities across Brazil during Lent to promote social solidarity. The theme, selected by the CONSEP council, highlights that millions of families lack adequate shelter. According to the outlet, the campaign aims to stimulate concrete solutions from the government and civil society to address the housing deficit, linking faith with social justice and human dignity.
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The Casa Bom Samaritano in Brasilia, Brazil, is hosting 65 Venezuelan migrants and refugees as part of a voluntary interiorization program. The facility, managed by AVSI Brasil and the Scalabrinian Sisters with UNHCR funding, provides temporary shelter for up to three months. During this period, residents receive support for job placement, professional training, and social integration. Graziella Guimarães, the center coordinator, states the goal is to foster financial autonomy and self-esteem. The initiative, part of the federal Operation Acolhida, aims to help families rebuild their lives and access employment in sectors like services and construction in the Federal District. (Source: CNBB)
Representatives of Clamor Network Brazil met with the Presidency Secretariat in Brazil on Wednesday, May 5, to discuss migration and refugee issues. Attendees included government officials Eduardo Brasileiro de Carvalho, Ramon Jung Pereira, and Lindrielli Rocha Lemos, alongside network members Irmã Rosita Milesi, Padre Marcelo Maróstica, Allan Matheus Gloss, and Indi Gouveia. The group raised concerns about recent regulations, visa access, and reduced international funding. They emphasized the critical role of civil society in supporting migrants and highlighted the need for an implementation plan for the 2024 National Migration Policy. The Presidency signaled willingness to deepen dialogue with other ministries to improve public policies. Clamor Network Brazil is a Catholic Church coalition advocating for migrant rights.
Bishop Lucio Nicoletto of the Prelacy of São Felix in Mato Grosso, Brazil, reflects on the preparation for the 8th Pilgrimage of the Martyrs of the Journey. He emphasizes that the Church is renewed through the blood of martyrs, citing Bishop Pedro Casaldáliga's call to remember the poor and the martyrs. The event marks 40 years of pilgrimage and 50 years since the martyrdom of Father João Bosco Burnier, Father Rodolfo, and Simão Bororo in the Araguaia-Xingu Valley. Nicoletto urges participants to uphold hope, justice, and peace, ensuring the pilgrimage remains a collective spiritual experience rather than a tool for division or ideology. (Source: CNBB)
The National Sanctuary in Aparecida, Brazil, inaugurated the 'Homeless Jesus' sculpture on February 21, marking the start of the 2026 Fraternity Campaign. The bronze statue, created by Timothy Schmalz, depicts Christ as a homeless person to highlight housing issues. CNBB President Cardinal Jaime Spengler and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin attended the opening Mass. The campaign, themed 'Fraternity and Housing,' aims to raise awareness about inadequate living conditions and homelessness in Brazil. Pope Leo XIV also sent a message of support for the initiative.
On February 19, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church met with Brazilian bishops in Prudentópolis, Paraná. Archbishop Geremias Steinmetz highlighted the historical presence of Ukrainian Catholics in Brazil and recent aid efforts by Caritas for war victims. Dom Sviatoslav described the severe destruction in Ukraine and the trauma faced by civilians. He thanked Brazilian leaders for their support, stating they would convey to the people of Kiev that the Catholic Church in Brazil stands with them. The meeting reinforced unity between Latin and Ukrainian rites amid the ongoing conflict.
The 2026 Fraternity Campaign will launch in Aparecida, Brazil, on February 21 and 22. The event focuses on the right to dignified housing, citing that 6.2 million Brazilian families lack adequate homes. Activities include blessing the 'Christ Without Roof' monument by Timothy Schmalz and an opening Mass presided by CNBB President Cardinal Jaime Spengler. The campaign highlights the vulnerability of 328,000 homeless people and calls for social conversion. The celebrations aim to mobilize the Church and society to address housing insecurity as a gateway to other fundamental rights. Events will be broadcast on TV Aparecida and social media.
During the February 18 opening of the 2026 Fraternity Campaign in Brazil, Jean Poul Hansen, executive secretary of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, presented a report on the National Solidarity Fund. The presentation detailed how resources from the 2025 National Solidarity Collection supported 235 social projects across the country. The report highlighted initiatives in Goiás, Santa Catarina, and Pará, emphasizing transparency and accountability to the Church and the public. The summary was delivered via a video produced by the CNBB Communications Office, showcasing the selection process and impact of the funded projects.
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