The Apostolic Vicariate of Pucallpa presented the official songbook for the Holy Mass that Pope Leo XIV will preside over on November 15 at La Videnita. The repertoire brings together compositions and hymns that express the identity, spirituality, and cultural richness of the Amazonian Church.
The music and sounds of the Amazon will hold a special place during Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Pucallpa, Peru. As part of the preparations for this event, the Apostolic Vicariate of Pucallpa has released the official songbook for the Holy Mass to be celebrated on November 15 at the La Videnita sports complex.
The collection, titled *Songbook for the Holy Mass – Pope Leo XIV, Pucallpa*, contains a liturgical repertoire that accompanies the various moments of the Eucharistic celebration, incorporating traditional songs and compositions that reflect the faith, daily life, and identity of the Amazonian peoples.
Among the featured pieces are the official hymn for the Pope’s visit to Peru, “León, Hermano del Camino” (León, Brother on the Journey), by Jaime Montoya Ayala, performed by the Aguchita Choir, and the composition “Saludo al Papa León XIV en Pucallpa” (Greeting to Pope Leo XIV in Pucallpa), by Father Segundo Sandoval Gaviria. Both songs express the joy of the Amazonian peoples at welcoming the Holy Father and their hope to walk together in faith, fraternity, and mission.
The songbook also includes musical expressions deeply rooted in the region, such as *Los hijos de la selva* (Children of the Jungle), *Santo Amazónico* (Amazonian Saint), *Padre Amerindio* (Amerindian Father), and *Yo te ofrezco, Señor* (I Offer You, Lord). These compositions evoke the rivers, the fruits, the indigenous peoples, the work of the communities, and the commitment to caring for the Amazon.
One of the most significant aspects of the repertoire is the inclusion of references to various indigenous languages and peoples, including the Shipibo, Asháninka, Quechua, and Shawi, recognizing the cultural diversity that enriches the life of the Church in this region.
A Church that sings from its Amazonian identity
This musical program represents much more than simply accompanying a liturgical celebration. It is an expression of a Church that proclaims the Gospel from its own cultural roots, recognizes the richness of the peoples, and makes their traditions a path of encounter, participation, and communion.
Through these songs, the Amazonian Church will share with Pope Leo XIV its spirituality, its hopes, and also the realities of the peoples who inhabit this territory, reaffirming that faith is lived and celebrated through the diversity of cultures and languages.
With this initiative, the Apostolic Vicariate of Pucallpa invites the communities and those who will participate in the celebration to prepare for this gathering, making music an expression of welcome, unity, and hope.
“Where the Amazon is, there is the Pope,” reads the message accompanying the songbook, as a sign of a Church that walks alongside its peoples and celebrates the faith from the heart of the jungle.