Pope Leo XIV condemned the ongoing exploitation and violence within the Amazon basin during a visit to Pucallpa, Peru, on Sunday.
Meeting with representatives of indigenous peoples, the pontiff decried the systemic destruction of the environment and the marginalization of local communities, according to Kathpress.
“Der Schrei der Erde und der Schrei der Armen erheben sich gemeinsam und entlarven eine Markt- und Ausbeutungslogik, die das Gleichgewicht der Schöpfung aufs Spiel setzt,” said Pope Leo XIV.
The pope emphasized that the protection of the rainforest cannot be separated from the welfare of the people living there. Indigenous leaders reported that the situation in the region has deteriorated in recent years, noting that many have been murdered while attempting to protect their ancestral lands. Addressing these deaths, the pontiff stated:
“Das Blut dieser Brüder schreit zu Gott und fordert Gerechtigkeit von den Menschen.”
Leo XIV. highlighted a range of crises affecting the region, including illegal mining, deforestation, oil pollution, and drug trafficking. He also criticized the lack of access to healthcare and education, as well as instances of sexual abuse that often occur in an environment of impunity and state neglect.
The pontiff rejected the view of the Amazon as merely a reservoir for raw materials, describing that model as a failure. He further said that corruption, arbitrary actions, and institutional negligence are undermining trust in human goodness.
The pope, who was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, holds both American and Peruvian citizenship. He served as the bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo in northern Peru from 2015 to 2023. His connection to the nation dates back to the mid-1980s, when he spent approximately 14 years working as an Augustinian missionary in Chulucanas and Trujillo.
To counter these conditions, the pope invoked the concept of “ganzheitliche Ökologie,” or integral ecology, a framework previously championed by his predecessor, Pope Francis. Leo XIV. assured the indigenous representatives that the Church remains committed to their cause, specifically thanking the clergy and laity working in the region under difficult circumstances.
“Ich möchte euch im Glauben und in der Hoffnung bestärken und euch bei eurem Streben nach Gerechtigkeit und Frieden unterstützen, welche diese Region so dringend benötigt,” he said.
The visit to Pucallpa was part of a six-day trip to Peru, which concludes with a final mass in Lima on Monday. This journey marks the longest trip of his pontificate, covering Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru since November 6.
