The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) expressed “serious concern” about some setbacks in the field of ethics and care for the poor. THE New Year’s Letter of Catholic leaders was published last Monday (29).
About democracy in the country, the entity states that the year 2025 was marked by “deep tensions and social setbacks” that weakened trust in institutions.
“In the context of democratic coexistence, the year 2025 was marked by profound tensions and social setbacks, which left open wounds in the social fabric. Some experiences seriously weakened trust in institutions and challenged people of good will, who believe in a more just and fraternal society”, says the message.
For the entity, democracy is a “heritage of the Brazilian people” that requires care, dialogue and respect for institutional checks and balances.
“Democracy, with its requirement for dialogue, its institutions, its checks and balances, is the heritage of the Brazilian people and needs care and promotion. Although imperfect, it is fertile ground where justice and truth can embrace each other (cf. Ps 85:10) and flourish.”
The entity argues that the nation must rediscover the path of pacification, dialogue and mutual respect.
Challenges to ethics
The critical assessment of 2025 by Brazilian bishops points out that the Democratic coexistence was harmed by economic interests and power struggles that weakened essential control mechanisms.
Among the points cited by the Church, the following stand out:
- Conduct of authorities: the text denounces “the loss of decorum and lack of responsibility on the part of some authorities, especially our National Congress”.
- Weakening of ethics and increasing corruption in public life;
- Weakening of democratic mechanisms, due to economic interests and power disputes;
- Flexibility of legal frameworks: the CNBB criticizes the changes in the Clean Record Law and the General Environmental Licensing Law;
- Threats to environmental protection and to original and traditional peoples, in the latter case, with the approval of the time frame in the National Congress;
- Violence and intolerance: the message condemns hate speech, the manipulation of the truth and the increase, especially, of crimes such as femicide;
- Payment of interest and debt repayments: leaves the country without the capacity for greater investment in areas such as education, health, housing and security;
- Social inequality, which continues to marginalize many;
- Drug use and the growth of “illicit economies”.
National scenario
Despite the criticism, the letter also lists victories celebrated in 2025, in Brazil. In the social and economic field, the Catholic Church highlighted the strengthening of the Unified Health System (SUS), by increasing the rate of doctors per inhabitant.
In the economic field, the CNBB valued the fall in the unemployment rate, the stability of inflation and the relative growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As a notable fact in the trade of goods and services in 2025, the institution did not forget the “withdrawal of some North American tariffs on several Brazilian products”, negotiated by the federal government, and “the opening of new international markets”.
In the environmental sector, the bishops highlighted the Brazil’s leading role in renewable energy and the holding of the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30) in Belémwhich reinforced the commitment to caring for planet Earth and combating the climate crisis. “We reaffirm that no political project can take precedence over life, respect for the human person, social justice and care for our common home.”
Also mentioned as positive experiences were the taxation of large fortunes and popular mobilization about reducing working hours, the so-called 6×1 scale, with the holding of a popular plebiscite.
Christian values
As an institution that brings together the bishops of the Catholic Church in the country, the message reaffirms the Church’s firm position against any initiative to legalize abortion and defends the “sacredness of life from conception to its natural end” as the first of rights and a free gift from God.
The bishops go further and highlight other contemporary aspects that must be observed in defense of human life.
“Defending life, however, also implies fighting against hunger, poverty and inequality. Defending life means creating conditions so that ‘all have life and life in abundance’ (John 10:10)”, emphasizes the CNBB.
The text ends with a quote from Dom Helder Câmara’s dream and Thiago de Mello’s poetry to reinforce that, although the current scenario presents difficulties, hope must be the transformative force for 2026. “It’s dark, but I sing, because the morning will come.”
The letter is signed by the president of the CNBB and archbishop of Porto Alegre, Dom Jaime Cardeal Spengler; by the archbishop of Goiânia and 1st vice-president of the institution, Dom João Justino de Medeiros Silva; by the 2nd vice-president of the entity and archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Dom Paulo Jackson Nóbrega de Sousa; and by the general secretary of the conference and auxiliary bishop of Brasília, Dom Ricardo Hoepers.
What is the CNBB
Founded in 1952, the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB) has the function of coordinating the evangelizing and pastoral action of the Catholic Church and promoting the common good and social justice.
As part of the Catholic Church, the CNBB works on religious issues, but it also has an active voice in civil society and commonly deals with human rights, ethics and political issues, especially in the fraternity’s annual campaigns. The initiatives are carried out during the period of Christian Lent.
