With the celebration of the inaugural Eucharist presided over by Cardinal Jaime Spengler, OFM, archbishop of Porto Alegre and president of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (Celam) and the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), the first day of work of the IV Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Network for the Culture of Care began.
Until next Thursday, September 3, the meeting gathers at the Dom Luciano Mendes de Almeida House 102 participants from 18 countries on the continent. Among the attendees are leaders and delegates from commissions for the prevention and response to abuse from Episcopal Conferences, religious congregations, and instances of Caritas Latin America and the Caribbean, committed to strengthening healthy and safe environments in the mission of the Church.
In the same boat facing the storms
In his homily, framed by the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation being celebrated today, Cardinal Spengler began by recalling the Genesis account of the original goodness of God's creative work to contrast it with the challenges that today strike the most vulnerable communities: «We all find ourselves in the same boat. The boat is being shaken very intensely; the waves hit again and again. Normally, those who suffer the greatest consequences are the poorest».
Referring to extreme climate phenomena and the suffering that afflicts the planet and people, the pastor emphasized the cry of creation and the urgency of a pastoral response: «The Earth is crying; the planet is asking for help. And we, as a Church, are called to promote, certainly, the culture of care».
Spirituality as the foundation of care
The president of Celam firmly warned that any organizational, pastoral, or procedural structure lacks consistency if it does not arise from a deep inner life. Using the popular saying «an empty sack cannot stand upright», he emphasized: «There is no personal life project, there is no pastoral project, there is no political, business, economic, or ecclesial project that can stand without spirituality, without mysticism, without prayer».
In this sense, he invited us to look at the Gospel from the perspective of care and evangelical vigilance: «How many times can we gather the expression of Jesus: “Be alert, watch, pay attention”».
Mutual care and care for oneself
Reflecting on the passage from the Letter to the Hebrews, Cardinal Spengler recalled with closeness and humor the fully human condition of those who serve in the Church: «Jesus did not come to take care of angels... We are not angels. The work of care is not only from here to there, but also from there to here».
With this call to mutual care and self-care of the agents and caregivers themselves, the cardinal concluded by entrusting the work of these days: «Let us ask, in today's celebration, for the grace to be women and men who promote the work of care. May the Lord help us with His grace so that we can successfully carry out what is our responsibility: to watch, to be attentive to care, also for ourselves».
During the coming days, participants will continue the working groups, methodological analysis, and exchange of good practices to strengthen the Church's commitment in Latin America and the Caribbean to the prevention of abuse and the promotion of a culture of care for human dignity.
With the collaboration of the Care and Safeguarding Core of the Ecclesial Communication Network of Latin America and the Caribbean (Reclac).
Subscribe for free to our Whatsapp channel https://bit.ly/4hbWWN0
Discover the new 2026 offer of courses, diplomas, and degrees at Cebitepal https://bit.ly/4aHAue1
Because we must care for those who protect creation, the podcast Life Hangs by a Thread arrives https://bit.ly/46cGUiB
