Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will attend the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches on February 17 in the city of Porto Alegre, speaking before an expected audience of more than 4,000 delegates, observers and journalists from 347 Protestant and Orthodox Churches from 120 countries around the world, the secretary of the office of the presidency said February 1. The Brazilian president received the WCC invitation in May 2003.

The confirmation of Lula's presence was communicated to the new secretary general of the Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC), Rev. Western Clay Peixoto (Brazilia).

"President Lula has been very successful in international meetings. He is a good speaker and will not give a mere protocol greeting to the Assembly but a message with a great deal of content," said Lutheran Pastor Ervino Schmidt, outgoing CONIC secretary general.