An impressive number of people attended the Fifth American Missionary Congress, which took place in Bolivia on the theme: America on Mission, the Gospel is joy! In fact, the event drew almost 3 thousand participants: 1,200 national delegates from all the dioceses of Bolivia; 1,100 international delegates from 25 other countries; 400 organizers and volunteers; 80 special guests; a large delegation (45 people, including 5 bishops) from the USA; a total of 95 bishops and cardinals, one of whom was the envoy of Pope Francis–Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The American Missionary Congress (CAM), the greatest ecclesial event for the Church of the Americas, is lived in unity, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, every four or five years: The goal of these Congresses is to pinpoint with always greater clarity the missionary journey of the Church throughout both continents.
Preparation for this latest Congress took four years and Pope Francis himself composed the prayer that guided and inspired the reflections and activities of the event.