The Catholic Church in the Loreto region, in the Peruvian Amazon, issued a statement expressing its deep concern over the high rates of poverty, vulnerability, and social conflict affecting the Amazonian population, especially indigenous peoples.
The document was signed by B Bishop Miguel Ángel Cadenas CardB o, Apostolic Vicar of Iquitos; B Bishop Jesús María Aristín SecoB , Apostolic Vicar of Yurimaguas; and B César Luis Caro PuértolasB , Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of San José del Amazonas, along with the Mission Councils of the three vicariates and various parishes in the region.
The statement comes following the publication of a report by theNational Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), which indicates that Loreto has the second-highest rate of monetary poverty in Peru, affecting 40.1% of the population. It also warns that 32.8% of residents live in a situation of economic vulnerability and that poverty rises to 46.2% in households where the mother tongue is an Amazonian indigenous language.
The pastors denounce that the social situation has not only failed to improve in recent years but “remains the same and is even worsening,” generating a widespread feeling of abandonment by the State. They also point out that, although regional and municipal authorities have resources, these do not translate into an improvement in the population’s quality of life.
In the text, the Amazonian Church warns that corruption “perpetuates poverty and hinders development” in the region, fueling social conflicts and episodes of violence such as those recently recorded on the Corrientes River. Furthermore, they note that Loreto remains one of the regions with the highest levels of social conflict in the country.
Inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, the signatories issue an urgent call to the authorities to manage public resources with honesty, transparency, and a commitment to the common good, as well as to the public to exercise responsible voting in the upcoming elections.
“The cry of the poor and vulnerable Amazonian peoples continues to be heard by God and must challenge all of society,” the message concludes.
The Church in the Amazon thus reaffirms its prophetic commitment to the defense of life, human dignity, and social justice in the Amazonian territories.