Last month, our Peruvian partner, the Centro Amazónico de Antropología y Aplicación Práctica (CAAAP) organized a multi-stakeholder conference in Lima, in the context of a project that Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is supporting. Participants issued the following joint statement after the conference, which was originally published in Spanish on CAAAP’s website and is reproduced here in translation with their permission.
In the context of the first Ecclesial Assembly of the Peruvian Amazon, held in the city of Lima from January 27-29, Amazonian bishops, missionaries, lay people and Indigenous representatives met and reflected on the serious environmental crisis facing the Amazon. Faced with the increasing destruction of ecosystems, the impunity of criminal organisations and the insufficient response of many governments, this declaration seeks to reaffirm our commitment to the defence of the Common Home and the well-being of the Amazonian peoples. Inspired by the message of Pope Francis and the urgency of the moment, we call for action to protect the Amazon, the rights of its peoples and its natural resources, while recalling that respect for life and environmental justice are fundamental to the future of our planet.
12:30 – February 3, 2025 – In the city of Lima; in the framework of our annual Amazonian Ecclesial Assembly held from January 27-29, which brought together Amazonian bishops, missionaries, lay people and Indigenous representatives; in the face of the unsustainable situation of the destruction of ecosystems and the inadequate and insufficient response of many of our legislators and governments to the cry of our Mother Earth; and in communion with the concern of Pope Francis for the care of our Common Home, we emphatically declare that:
- It is time to react: Let us recognise that we are part of the problem; we are all responsible for the dire climate crisis in which our Amazon is mired. But we are also part of the solution; the call to care for the Amazon biome requires us to curb environmental impacts and preserve a healthy and balanced environment. This is the legacy for our children and grandchildren.
- It is urgent to say “No” to criminal organisations: The Amazon is very close to reaching the “point of no return,” where it will turn into a savannah and no longer play its critical role in regulating the global climate. Yet, criminal organisations continue to bleed it dry with impunity. This situation must be reversed, and our collective actions must be directed towards stemming this life-destroying tide. We urge the authorities to exercise their duties towards the citizens and territory of the Amazon with responsibility and patriotism.
- Water is a fundamental right for all: The Constitutional Court stipulates that in respect of its citizens, the state must ensure that its agencies and functions do not interfere with all people’s access to this good, in conditions that are healthy for human consumption. The Pope tells us that “leaving no one behind” means committing ourselves to end this injustice… because people’s lives and their very dignity are at stake.
- We must care for the caretakers and environmental defenders: The Church in the Amazon accompanies judicial processes that have been initiated by Indigenous organisations and that have marked a milestone in the defence of water and forests. However, many Indigenous leaders (35) have already been assassinated and others criminalized and threatened. Nevertheless, guided by Pope Francis, the Church remains committed to the care of the land and the people who live there (Indigenous people, settlers, riverside dwellers).
Having begun the Jubilee year as “Pilgrims of Hope,” let us live the year inspired by the words of the Book of Leviticus that define the Jubilee as a return to the harmony of right relationships, calling to “proclaim liberty throughout the land to all… return, every one of you, to your property and… to your family” (Lev. 25:10); to respect the rhythms of nature and “not sow or reap the aftergrowth” (Lev. 25:11); and finally, to “not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 25:17).
