The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Latin American bishops' council (CELAM) have signed an agreement to develop a universal Spanish-language Bible translation designed to reach Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Americas. Father Sidney Fones of CELAM said the new translation will serve the majority of Spanish-speaking Catholics who cannot understand current Spanish translations of the Bible because they are based on linguistic traditions in Spain rather than Latin America. A group of 30 experts have been assembled to assist with the translation. Sections of the new translation are to be completed by the beginning of next year, and the full translation is to be done by 2015. The USCCB has pledged $1 million to the project over 10 years.