The first discussion in the “Speaking with an Amazonian Heart” series, held on Thursday, October 22, brought together representatives of the Church and Indigenous leaders to reflect on the history of the mission in the Peruvian Amazon, progress in supporting Indigenous peoples, and the challenges that persist in defending their territories, cultures, and rights. The initiative is being organized in preparation for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Pucallpa, scheduled for November 15.
The Church in the Peruvian Amazon continues to reflect on its mission alongside indigenous peoples, recognizing the lessons learned from decades of pastoral, educational, and social support, as well as the need to strengthen their leading role in ecclesial and community life.
In this context, on Thursday, October 22, the first webinar in the “Speaking with an Amazonian Heart” discussion series was held, under the theme “The Amazonian Church: Mission, Presence, and Accompaniment of the Peoples.” The event was organized by the Apostolic Vicariate of Pucallpa, the Amazonian Center for Anthropology and Practical Application (CAAAP), REPAM Peru, the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), and the UNESCO Chair, with the aim of creating a space for dialogue on the history, challenges, and prospects of the Church’s mission alongside indigenous peoples.
The meeting is part of the preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic visit to Pucallpa on November 15, an event that represents an opportunity to shed light on the reality of the Amazonian peoples and to listen to their voices, hopes, and concerns.
During his opening remarks, Monsignor Augusto Martín Quijano Rodríguez, bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Pucallpa, emphasized that the Holy Father’s visit concerns not just one city, but the entire Amazon region. He also called for recognizing mission as a fundamental characteristic of the Church and for valuing the commitment of those who have dedicated their lives to accompanying the Amazonian peoples.
The discussion featured testimonies from Monsignor Gerardo Antonio Zerdín Bukovec, bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Ramón; Sister Conchi López, of the Missionary Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; and Cecilio Soria, a lawyer and communicator from the Shipibo-Konibo indigenous people. Through their experiences, the participants retraced part of the history of the Church’s presence in the region and shared reflections on current challenges.
A Mission That Recognizes the Leading Role of Indigenous Peoples
In his remarks, Monsignor Gerardo Zerdín recalled his experience of accompanying indigenous peoples and referenced the message of St. John Paul II during his 1985 visit to Peru, when he called on the bishops of the Amazon to care for, respect, and accompany these communities.
The bishop noted that, throughout history, the Church’s pastoral care has not always accorded indigenous peoples their rightful place. In some contexts, pastoral efforts were concentrated primarily in cities, while indigenous communities remained on the margins of ecclesial life.
In light of this reality, he emphasized the need to strengthen an indigenous pastoral ministry that integrates the proclamation of the Gospel, formation, recognition of languages and cultures, and the promotion of dignified living conditions.
“They can be not only recipients but also protagonists of their own evangelization,” he said, referring to the importance of indigenous peoples themselves actively participating in the life of the Church.
He also insisted that accompaniment must translate into concrete actions that contribute to the well-being of communities, foster their development, and enable their members to find opportunities to live with dignity in their territories, without being forced to migrate due to a lack of alternatives.
Decades of Accompaniment: Education, Rights, and Defense of Life
For her part, Sister Conchi López shared the experience of the Missionary Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a congregation that has been accompanying the Shipibo-Konibo people in the Peruvian Amazon since 1977.
Her testimony highlighted the work carried out alongside the communities in areas such as education, human rights training, the strengthening of community organizations, and the promotion of economic initiatives.
The nun recalled that the missionary support has sought to respond to the needs identified by the communities themselves, through educational processes and development projects in which the intention has not been to direct, but rather to accompany and educate.
Among the advances, she highlighted the growing participation of Indigenous men and women in academic, professional, and organizational spheres. Currently, members of these communities work in various professions and help define their peoples’ development priorities.
She also emphasized the role of Indigenous women, who—through their crafts, their knowledge, and the transmission of their languages and traditions—strengthen family economies and keep cultural identity alive.
However, she warned that significant challenges remain: economic migration, difficulties in accessing quality education, the gradual loss of indigenous languages, discrimination, and threats to ancestral territories.
Added to these problems are land invasions, oil spills, illegal mining, and other activities that endanger the lives of communities and those who defend their territories.
Sister Conchi emphasized that Indigenous participation must go beyond mere presence in certain forums and ensure that Indigenous peoples are present wherever decisions affecting their future are made.
In this regard, she noted that Pope Leo XIV’s visit presents an opportunity for their concerns to be heard and to strengthen the Church’s commitment to defending their rights and dignity.
The Indigenous Experience: A Church That Accompanies and Forms Leaders
Drawing on his experience as a member of the Shipibo-Konibo people, Cecilio Soria offered insights into the Church’s accompaniment and its contribution to the educational, organizational, and social processes of Indigenous communities.
He recalled the work of missionaries who walked alongside Indigenous peoples at different points in history and highlighted their participation in initiatives related to formation, community organization, and the defense of rights.
Among his recollections, he mentioned the work of priests such as Gastón Villanueva, whose support helped strengthen spaces for gathering and organization among the communities. He also highlighted the role of institutions and educational programs that facilitated indigenous youth’s access to higher education, fostering the development of professionals committed to their peoples.
Soria also underscored the importance of Indigenous organizations in territorial defense and in developing proposals for the future of the Amazon. In this regard, he highlighted the contribution of Shipibo-Konibo women, whose art and crafts have helped bring their culture to the forefront both within and outside Peru.
When discussing the current challenges facing young people, he noted that the lack of economic and educational opportunities continues to drive migration to cities and other regions, exposing many young people to situations of vulnerability.
For this reason, she stressed the need to move beyond purely welfare-based approaches and commit to sustainable initiatives that strengthen community autonomy, promote local entrepreneurship, and create opportunities for future generations.
“What we need to focus on now is economic development,” he said, emphasizing the importance of promoting productive alternatives that allow young people to build their future without having to leave their communities.
His testimony highlighted that the Church’s accompaniment can yield lasting results when it contributes to the formation of leaders, strengthens community capacities, and recognizes indigenous peoples as protagonists of their own processes.
Toward a Synodal and Intercultural Church
In the dialogue with participants, the panelists agreed that one of the main challenges facing the Amazonian Church is to move toward an increasingly horizontal relationship with indigenous peoples, recognizing their knowledge, their spiritualities, their languages, and their ways of understanding the world.
Monsignor Gerardo Zerdín called for a reexamination of the language and categories traditionally used to refer to indigenous peoples, noting that some of them perpetuate Eurocentric perspectives that hinder an understanding of their own worldviews.
Instead of maintaining a separation between “us” and “them,” he proposed building a shared sense of belonging, in which the indigenous peoples who are part of the Church are fully recognized as members and protagonists of the ecclesial community.
This perspective aligns with the synodal journey promoted by the Church, which calls for listening, dialogue, and walking together, while valuing the gifts and experiences of all the baptized and of the communities living in the Amazon.
Participants also highlighted the need to strengthen coordinated efforts among vicariates, ecclesial organizations, Indigenous communities, and partner institutions to respond comprehensively to the region’s social, cultural, economic, and environmental challenges.
Intercultural education, the preservation of indigenous languages, the effective participation of women and young people, the defense of territories, and the creation of economic opportunities were identified as priority areas for advancing toward a dignified life for the Amazonian peoples.
Pope Leo XIV’s Visit: An Opportunity to Listen to the Amazon
Reflecting on Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Pucallpa, the panelists agreed that this event must go beyond a mere gathering and become an opportunity to strengthen the processes that communities and the Church have been building for decades.
Sister Conchi López expressed her hope that the Holy Father will listen to the concerns of indigenous peoples and help bring attention to the threats they face, as well as their hopes and proposals for the future.
Cecilio Soria, for his part, emphasized the importance of ensuring that new generations have access to educational and economic opportunities that allow them to remain in their territories if they so choose, develop their skills, and contribute to the well-being of their communities.
Monsignor Zerdín invited participants to deepen their understanding of the Church, in which indigenous peoples are not considered merely the recipients of pastoral care, but active members of a community that shares the faith and builds paths through intercultural dialogue.
The discussion concluded with a call to continue strengthening the Church’s support for indigenous peoples, recognizing the progress made and responsibly addressing the remaining challenges.
In preparation for Pope Leo XIV’s visit, the “Speaking with an Amazonian Heart” series seeks to keep this space for reflection and encounter open, so that the history, the word, and the hopes of the Amazonian peoples continue to occupy a central place in the Church’s mission.
Because accompanying the Amazon means walking alongside its peoples, defending life, and contributing to the building of communities where every culture is respected, every voice is heard, and new generations can live with dignity in their territories.