Pope Leo XIV receives participants in North-South socio-environmental dialogue

In brief

Pope Leo XIV met with participants of the "Fratelli tutti: North-South socio-environmental Dialogue" at the Vatican Apostolic Palace on September 12, 2026. The meeting brought together members of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Amazonian Ecclesial Conference, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The Pontifical Commission for Latin America promoted the dialogue, which has been ongoing for five years. Attendees included representatives from international organizations, regional development banks, foundations, and the business community. The Pope also welcomed leaders from trade union confederations, employers’ organizations, university networks, and various ecclesial and community networks across the Americas.

During the audience, the Pope identified social justice as the decisive criterion for the construction sites of history.