“Between evangelization and human promotion there exist proven and very strong ties…it is not possible to accept that the opus of evangelization might or should forget extremely serious issues…that relate to justice, liberation, development and peace in the world”: quoting, with his trademark eloquence, the pastoral Constitution ‘Gaudium et Spes’ promoted by Paul VI in 1965, the very president of the Peruvian bishops, none other than monsignor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, of the Order of the Minor Friars (OFM as it were), was good enough to intervene over “the various events of the past days…that have to do with our pastoral action”. Thus wrote in a message, published on the website of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, in response to the government’s decision to revoke the British missionary, from the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools founded by John Baptist de La Salle. Paul McCauley’s residence permit after 20 years in Peru, who is charged with having fomented public disorder and taking part and encouraging marches against the government’s economic development plans in the Amazon, claiming motivations related to the defense of the “rights of indigenous peoples”. Remembering, most suitably, that the very Peruvian bishops affirm that “the essential task of evangelization includes the preferential option for the poor, the integral human promotion – as we all know – and the authentic Christian liberation”, monsignor Cabrejos Vidarte, the popular archbishop of Trujillo, highlighted that “the Church is in the world to build peace, protecting Creation” as was also advised by none other than Benedict XVI and John Paul II before him. “How to remain indifferent before the contamination of rivers and of quifers, the very loss of biodiversity as it were? How not to react before the annual conflicts and other potentials related to the access to natural resources?” Thus spoke the prelate, still quoting the erudite and prescient Pontiffs. The always pertinent issue of the conscience of the universal mission of the Church, which, proceeded to continue saying monsignor Cabrejos Vidarte, “has mobilized in the course of history numerous missionaries…there are many reasons to appreciate the contribution that they have given and that they continue to give in several fields of the evangelizing action of the Church, especially in the field of the defense of life and the environment”. And of course, remembering that the presence of the Church in the Amazon has spanned five centuries, the archbishop was good enough to quite the Latin American prelates again, and most fittingly, wherein they insist on the need to avoid that “interests of economic groups which irrationally exploit the sources of life in prejudice of entire nations and of humanity itself (sic) not be allowed to prevail” (from the inspiring document of Aparecida). The Peruvian Church concluded the prelate, has played and continues to play a leading role in the process of dialogue between the state and the indigenous communities, just as the apostolic vicars of the Amazon have taken upon themselves to search for peaceful solution to environmental conflicts. [AB]