In Sao Paulo, a bishop named Robert Prevost once sat quietly amidst Indigenous leaders and church workers discussing the perils facing Peru’s northern forests, part of the Amazon rainforest. This event took place in 2016, a year after Pope Francis published his environmental encyclical, Laudato Si. When his turn came, the bishop chose not to preach in his city of Chiclayo. Instead, he shared his personal reflections, expressing the significance of the encyclical as a new chapter in the church’s care for creation. Robert Prevost has since risen to become Pope Leo XIV.
Laura Vargas, from Peru’s Interreligious Council, recalls Prevost’s welcoming nature and genuine interest in social pastoral work during that time. Prevost has maintained and deepened his connections with interfaith environmental networks and Indigenous organizations centered around forest preservation and rights. His longstanding ties to the region offer hope to clergy and communities in the Amazon, a vast area home to 48 million residents over 6.7 million square kilometers. With Prevost’s extensive experience in Peru’s rural areas, those living in the Amazon see him as a leader against climate change.
Prevost’s hands-on involvement in Chiclayo, a Northern Peruvian city close to the Amazon, is credited by many Catholics as integral to his rise. Surrounded by illegal activities such as forest clearing, gold mining, and land-grabbing, the Amazon’s delicate ecosystem faces myriad threats complicated further by climate-induced wildfires and droughts. Prevost is acutely aware of these challenges, having led the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, which connected him with peers in the nine Amazon-adjacent nations. His support of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network is aimed at addressing these urgent issues.
Cardinal Pedro Barreto, president of the Amazon-focused network, and Brazilian Friar Paulo Xavier both commend Prevost’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Xavier, serving in Manaus, cites Leo XIV’s alignment with Francis’ environmental vision and underscores the Holy Spirit’s role in seeking divine support. The see of Manaus became notably prominent when its archbishop, Leonardo Steiner, was made cardinal, a first by Francis. Efforts to spread the encyclical, even reaching remote villages by boat, highlight their dedication.
In November 2024, Prevost spoke from Vatican City, advocating for heightened climate action during a seminar. He noted Vatican initiatives like solar panel installation and turning to electric vehicles. On social media, he has shared concerns over carbon dioxide emissions, especially during Donald Trump’s early presidency. Laura Vicuña, from the Kariri Indigenous community and vice-president of a church conference, wrote of her hope for Prevost’s advocacy in the face of climate change.
Indigenous populations, like Vicuña’s Kariri, are often seen as vital protectors of the Amazon, despite years of displacement due to various threats. Luis Ventura of Brazil’s Indigenous Missionary Council hopes Prevost will continue to prioritize the Amazon and its native peoples, a mission the council felt significantly supported under Francis.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has prioritized the Amazon, including hosting the Amazon Synod to explore new paths for the church and ecology. Rose Bertoldo, from the Manaus archdiocese, is optimistic for the region’s future under Leo XIV, anticipating his potential visit to Brazil for the U.N. climate summit in Belem. Such involvement is viewed as essential in navigating the global climate and political landscape.
Peter Hughes, an Irish priest familiar with Prevost since the bishop’s arrival in Peru in 1985, notes Prevost’s longstanding concern over Amazonian extractivism and its impact on marginalized communities. As the challenges facing the world have grown more complex, Hughes reflects on the lasting urgency of these issues.
Pope Leo XIV inherits these environmental missions at a critical juncture, poised to leverage his deep-rooted experiences in the Amazon to propel action on a global stage.