From June 16 to 20, 2026, the Apostolic Vicar of Leticia, John Mario Mesa Palacio, made his first pastoral visit along the Mirití River, in an effort to draw close to, listen to, and accompany the Amazonian communities that inhabit this territory in the department of Amazonas.
During the five-day river journey, Bishop Mesa Palacio visited the communities of Mamurá and Jariyé de Mirití, Puerto Libre, Guacayá, Oiyacá, Puerto Nuevo, and Puerto Lago, bringing a message of hope, strengthening the faith of the people, and sharing in the families’ joys, challenges, and hopes.
The pastoral visit was marked by community gatherings, celebrations of the faith, opportunities for dialogue, and moments of fellowship that allowed the new Apostolic Vicar to gain firsthand insight into the reality of the indigenous and riverside communities that make up this vast Amazonian ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
In each community, the bishop encouraged the faithful to persevere in following Jesus Christ, strengthening community life, ecclesial participation, and their commitment to caring for our Common Home—an essential dimension of the Church’s mission in the Amazon.
This first pastoral journey down the Mirití River represents a concrete sign of a Church that is close to the people, synodal, and missionary—a Church that walks alongside the Amazonian peoples, sharing in their realities and proclaiming the Gospel through listening, respect, and service.
From the pilgrim Church in the Amazon, we lift up our prayers that the Lord may continue to bless the communities we have visited and strengthen their faith, hope, and commitment to building the Kingdom of God in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
