Fraternity Campaign

The Fraternity Campaign (in Portuguese: Campanha da Fraternidade) is an annual Lenten initiative of the Catholic Church in Brazil, organized by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB). Every five years, it is conducted ecumenically in partnership with other Christian denominations.^[1] Its primary objective is to raise awareness and foster solidarity among the faithful and society at large regarding a specific social issue affecting Brazil, while seeking pathways toward solutions. Each year, a theme is selected to define the concrete reality to be addressed, accompanied by a motto that outlines the desired direction for transformation.^[2]

The Campaign aims to educate for a life of fraternity, grounded in justice and love as central Gospel principles, and to renew collective responsibility for the Church's evangelizing and human promotion mission toward a just and supportive society. A tangible expression of the Campaign is the solidarity collection held on Palm Sunday, implemented nationwide across Catholic and ecumenical Christian communities. The funds raised constitute the National Solidarity Fund and Diocesan Solidarity Funds; 60% is allocated to social projects within the donating diocese, while the remaining 40% forms the National Fund, which strengthens solidarity initiatives across different regions of the country.^[3]

In 1961, three priests responsible for Caritas Brazil conceived a campaign to raise funds for charitable activities. This initiative, named the Fraternity Campaign, was first held during Lent in 1962 in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. The following year, it was adopted by sixteen dioceses in the Northeast. While not financially successful, this initial effort became the embryo of an annual project for the National Organizations of the CNBB and the Particular Churches in Brazil, conducted in light of the General Guidelines for the Pastoral (Evangelizing) Action of the Church in the country.^[2]

The campaign's early development was significantly influenced by the National Secretariat for Social Action of the CNBB, under which Caritas Brazil, founded in 1957, operated. At the time, the Secretariat was headed by Bishop Eugênio de Araújo Sales, who also served as President of Caritas Brazil. His role as the Apostolic Administrator of Natal explains why the campaign was first launched in that ecclesiastical jurisdiction and throughout the state of Rio Grande do Norte.^[4]

Launched nationally on December 26, 1962, under the renewing spirit of the Second Vatican Council, the campaign was first held across Brazil during Lent in 1964.^[4] The council period was fundamental for conceiving and structuring the Fraternity Campaign, alongside the Emergency Pastoral Plan and the Joint Pastoral Plan, ultimately contributing to the launch of Organic Pastoral work and other initiatives of ecclesial renewal. Over four consecutive years, during extended periods, Brazilian bishops residing together in Rome while attending Council sessions engaged in meetings, study, and exchange of experiences, which provided the fertile context for the campaign's birth and growth.

On December 20, 1964, the bishops approved the campaign's foundational document. In 1965, both Caritas and the Fraternity Campaign were transferred from the National Secretariat for Social Action to be directly linked to the CNBB's General Secretariat, marking the CNBB's full assumption of the campaign. This transition established its basic structure. By 1967, the preparation of more comprehensive annual planning materials began, and national meetings for its coordination were initiated. From 1971, the CNBB Presidency and the Episcopal Pastoral Commission also participated in these meetings. A significant milestone was reached in 1970 when the pope began delivering a message for its launch on Ash Wednesday, a practice that continues to enrich the campaign's opening.^[5]

From 1962 to the present, the Fraternity Campaign has been a broad evangelization activity developed during Lent. It aims to help Christians and people of good will live out fraternity through concrete commitments, transforming society by addressing a specific problem that requires everyone's participation in its solution. It has become a distinctive expression of liberating evangelization, simultaneously fostering the renewal of the Church's life and the transformation of society. The 2023 campaign, under the motto "Give them something to eat yourselves," faced criticism from conservative Catholic groups, such as the Centro Dom Bosco, which alleged communist influences in its foundational text.^[6]

In the history of the Fraternity Campaign's development, several phases can be identified, which also intertwine with the history of the Catholic Church and the recent history of Brazilian society.

• Catholic Church in Brazil
• Social issues in Brazil

• Fraternity Campaign on the CNBB website (in Portuguese)