On the encounter with the living Jesus Christ, a path to conversion, communion, and solidarity in the Americas.
The Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America was promulgated by Saint John Paul II on January 22, 1999. This document follows the work of the 1997 Synod of Bishops, which focused on evangelization in the Americas, and is presented as a profound reflection on the mission of the Church in the Americas in the context of the Third Millennium.
At a time when the Americas were experiencing significant social, political, and cultural transformations, Ecclesia in America seeks to offer a pastoral response to contemporary challenges. Growing secularization, religious pluralism, poverty, and social divisions were some of the problems facing the continent. Through this exhortation, the Pope calls for a renewal of evangelization in the Americas, inspiring the Church to be a sign of unity in a continent deeply marked by cultural and religious diversity.
Ecclesia in America highlights the unity of the Church in the Americas despite its cultural and social differences. In the context of a continent in transition, the exhortation encourages a new evangelization that respects diversity but also proclaims the message of Christ with clarity and coherence. Solidarity with the poor and social justice are pillars that the Church in the Americas must follow in its mission.
This document continues to be a source of inspiration for pastors, lay people, and religious in the Americas, promoting a Church more committed to contemporary challenges and willing to work for unity and peace on the continent.