Medellín: 1968 did not fall down from heaven

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present the ecclesial context of the Medellín Conference. Medellín is not understood without the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The author revisits the historical and ecclesial antecedents of Vatican II as the episcopal relation of the Latin American continent with the European continent and the different relevances in the same council. With near silence on the subject of poverty, the Latin American bishops led by Helder Câmara and Larraín met to discuss the theme of poverty, generating the fruitful Pact of the Catacombs that later influenced the Medellín event.