Amazonia: New Paths for the Church and for an Integral Ecology

REPAM was set up in 2014 in answer to the grave concerns of Pope Francis and the Latin American Church regarding the “deep wounds that Amazonia and its peoples bear”. It embodies the promise Pope Francis made in the Amazon town of Maldonado, Peru, to affirm “a whole-hearted option for the defence of life, the defence of the earth and the defence of cultures”. REPAM stands for the Red Eclesial Pan-Amazónica, or Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network. Its work includes: Enabling indigenous leaders to...

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The Amazon in Bolivia. Bolivia, which declares its independence in 1825, has a territory of 1,098,581 km2, geographically divided into 9 departments (Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Tarija, La Paz, Santa Cruz, Potosí, Oruro, Pando and Beni). The current population is 10,027,254 inhabitants (2012 Census); the languages recognized by the Political Constitution of the State correspond to 36 nationalities and Indigenous Peoples Farmer workers, it recognizes itself as a plurinational and intercultural...

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History of the Catholic Church in Brazil. The beginning of the presence of the Church in the Amazon, as well as throughout Brazil, is related to the complexity of its discovery and occupation by the Portuguese crown. This presence had two aspects: the missionary side entrusted to some religious orders, and the branch of implantation of the Church, with its own structures, through the bishoprics. At the same time, the presence of the Church had a political and cultural significance. The...

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Colombian Amazon. The Amazon region of Colombia covers 42% of the national territory (with an area of 483,119 km2) and is the least populated area of the country. During the decades from 1950 to 1970, the occupation of this area was fostered with the penetration of migratory flows in the indigenous regions, in view of the installation of a development model based on oil activities. Currently the majority of the population resides in the departments of Caquetá, Putumayo, Guavire and Amazonas....

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The Ecuadorian Amazon. The Amazonian area of Ecuador covers 120,000 km² (48% of the national territory) and includes the provinces of Sucumbíos, Orellana, Napo, Pastaza, Morona and Zamora. In that area live, approximately 5% of the Ecuadorian population, about 740 thousand inhabitants. It is important to underline the existence of peoples who voluntarily remain without contacts with society, such as the Tagaeri, Taromenane and Oñamenane, established in the provinces of Orellana and Pastaza. The...

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French Guiana. The history of Catholicism in French Guiana (or Cayenne colony) begins with Portuguese missionary efforts after the Treaty of Tordesillas between Spain and Portugal in 1494 gave the territory to Portugal. However, there was no significant triumph in the conversion of aborigines until the seventeenth century. Catholicism was established only in 1636 and soon after it became the main religion. Efforts were made to convert the indigenous population and most of the immigrants were of...

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Province of Port of Spain Established as Diocese, February 29, 1956 Formerly Vicariate Apostolic, April 12, 1837 Comprises whole of Guyana Guyana, until independence, was known as British Guiana. It is a huge country of 83,000 square miles and a population of 756,000 people. It became independent on May 26, 1966 and a Republic on February 23, 1970. It is situated in North East. South America. 50% of its people are East. Indian, 30% are of African origin, 14% are Mixed, 5% are Amerindian and...

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The Amazon in Peru. The Peruvian Amazon comprises an area of 782,880.55 km² east of the Andes Mountain Range. It is one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity and endemism on the planet, covering two natural regions: high forest and low jungle, occupying more than 60% of the Peruvian territory. After Brazil, it is the second country in the territory of the Amazon rainforest. Despite its extension, it is also the least populated region of Peru, opening only 13% of the country's population....

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Information about Suriname and the Diocese of Paramaribo   Geography Suriname lies on the North-Eastern coast of South America, between French Guiana in the East, Guyana in the West, and Brazil in the South, between 54° and 58° Western longitude and 2° and 4° Nothern latitude. The country covers a surface area of 163,821km2 (63,252 sq. miles), of which the largest part (approx. 80%) is covered by pristine rainforest. The South of Suriname is part of the Amazon Rainforest. It...

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The Amazon in Venezuela. The Amazon region of Venezuela, is located mainly in the south of the country in the extension of the Orinoco River, occupies mainly the two most extensive states of the country: Bolivar and Amazonas, which with the state of Delta Amacuro in the northwest of the country and with a small portion from the state adjoins the south-west, adding 491.389 km², which conforms more than 50% of the national territory. This Amazonian region has a low population density...

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