Amazon synod vice-president Juan Urañavi speaks at workshop on care for the common home

Juan Urañavi, vice president of the Conferencia Eclesial de la Amazonía (CEAMA) representing indigenous peoples, spoke at a workshop on caring for the common home during the Week of Brotherhood. The session, inspired by the encyclical Laudato si’ by Pope Francis, brought together delegates from various jurisdictions across the country.

Urañavi argued that people must move beyond scientific or technical approaches to address the ecological crisis. He suggested that action should instead be based on a principle of gratitude. Urañavi stated that ecological conversion is the only way to address natural disasters caused by human activity and invited the Church and communities to restore respect for nature.

Ernesto Morales García, executive secretary of Pastoral Social Cáritas Ñuflo de Chávez, noted the importance of national and global training spaces. He called for deep reflection on how human actions contribute to the current ecological crisis and natural disasters.