In November, 1,000 people are excepted to take part in a regionwide ecclesial assembly (Spanish-language link) organized by CELAM, the Episcopal Conference of Latin America.

“This is the first time an ecclesial assembly has been held,” Pope Francis said in January. “It is not a conference of the Latin American bishops, like previous ones, the last in Aparecida, from which we still have much to learn. No, it is something else; it is a meeting of the people of God, laywomen, laymen, women religious, men religious, priests, bishops, all the people of God who are walking together. They pray, they talk, they think, they discuss, they seek the will of God.”