The official opening of the event involved Bishop Alfredo Espinoza, SDB, Archbishop of Quito and Primate of Ecuador. During his address he stressed the trust placed in the Archdiocese of Quito and the Church of Ecuador by Pope Francis to host this important global meeting. He also highlighted the joint work during the preparation process.

"Let us go forward, let us reflect, let us think, starting from the Eucharist, how we can be builders of fraternity, how we can live fraternity to heal the wounds of this world, wounds that we cannot cover, that we cannot ignore, that we cannot hide. This Symposium and Congress will not work miracles, but will open our minds and hearts to become aware that fraternity is a challenge, it is a challenge of today that we as Church must take up and I would also say guide in this society," Bishop Espinoza said.

A dialogue followed in which fraternity was addressed from different perspectives typical of Ecuador: Andean Literature, History, Politics and Cosmovision (Ed: ancestral conception of widespread life in South America, based on rites that connect man and the surrounding habitat), with the participation of leading figures in each of these areas.

Rosalía Arteaga, 39th President of Ecuador, reflected on fraternity through literary quotations, highlighting values such as solidarity, love and tolerance. She called for fraternity to be included in the daily decisions of leaders, businessmen, and citizens.

Gonzalo Ortiz, a historian, wondered if the history of Ecuador is a story of brothers or enemies. He concluded that in the past there have been conflicts, but also expressions of fraternity in the families and in the work of priests and religious, inviting us to see history from the point of view of community love.

Juan Carlos Holguín, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, analysed global problems such as drug, human and arms trafficking. He stressed that Ecuador has the potential to overcome these challenges and highlighted that fraternity and cooperation between governments are necessary to solve them.

Finally, Juanita Guasgua, representative of the indigenous Cosmovision, said that fraternity is formed starting from the family and then in the community. He also recalled that the indigenous people go on pilgrimage and proclaim their faith in the Virgin Mary, recognising her as a Heavenly Guide and model of fraternity in their territories. He highlighted indigenous justice as a system that seeks to rehabilitate and restore harmony in the community and stressed respect for Mother Earth as part of fraternity.

On this first day, the "Sacred Heart of Jesus, Centre of Spirituality" Exhibition was also opened, with a series of Ecuadorian works of art. It is important to note that in 2024 Ecuador will commemorate 150 years of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an event for which Pope Francis has designated the country as the venue for the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress.

The activities ended with the Eucharistic celebration in the parish of Mary Help of Christians, presided over by Archbishop Andrés Carrascosa Coso, Apostolic Nuncio in Ecuador.

In the following days, religious and academics will speak on topics such as: "From brother to enemy", "Called to reconciliation", "The Eucharist: source and summit of fraternity", "Fraternity without the last is not fraternity", "The Heart of Jesus and the source of life", among other presentations. The Symposium will conclude on Saturday 7 September, with the Eucharist celebrated by Cardinal Pedro Barreto, SJ (Peru), President of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon.

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