Rio De Janeiro: In a gesture rich with spiritual solidarity and regional pride, the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) has extended a formal invitation to Pope Leo XIV, urging him to visit the region that once shaped the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis. The letter, sent during CELAM’s 40th Ordinary General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro, expresses both heartfelt joy over the Pope’s recent election and deep gratitude for his encouraging message sent just two days prior.

“We greet you with fraternal warmth and thank you for the words of support that have reinvigorated our episcopal mission,” the bishops wrote, affirming their unity with the newly elected Pontiff, whom they hail as the 266th successor to Saint Peter.

The CELAM bishops did not merely see Pope Leo XIV’s election as an ecclesiastical transition but as a divinely guided moment. In their letter, they described his rise to the papacy as “the providential work of God,” declaring it a “sign of hope” for the Church in an era of uncertainty and change. They also affirmed their “full and filial communion” with him, pledging to embody the Church’s mission through humility, simplicity, and authentic service.

The bishops took the opportunity to voice the cries of their people, calling on Pope Leo not to overlook Latin America and the Caribbean—a region where faith remains strong despite persistent struggles. As they commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first Latin American Episcopal Conference held in Rio in 1955, the bishops emphasized their pastoral commitment to evangelization and social justice.

They painted a vivid picture of the region’s challenges: communities fractured by violence and inequality, Indigenous peoples fighting for their rights, women and children caught in cycles of vulnerability, and youth facing a future clouded by exclusion. In the face of these realities, the bishops called upon the Pope’s “prophetic voice to inspire justice and peace.”

With pastoral sincerity, CELAM concluded its letter by inviting Pope Leo XIV to visit Latin America and the Caribbean at a time of his choosing. “Our people long for your presence and your apostolic blessing,” the bishops declared, positioning his visit as both a symbolic and spiritual renewal for the region.

They also underscored their continuing commitment to the synodal path, inspired by Pope Francis, and pledged to uphold the values of Laudato si’, calling for deeper care for the planet and for the poor.

As the bishops prepare to shepherd their communities through complex times, their message to Pope Leo XIV stands as a testament to Latin America’s enduring faith—and its fervent hope that the new Pontiff will walk alongside them.