At the birthday of the birthday Robert Prevost, Richard Arce Remember your work in Apurímac.
Know Prevost’s work in the Sierra.
Of course. The Pope not only worked in La Libertad, Chiclayo and Piura. Monsignor Prevost He was also in Apurímac. He did a very interesting job in the high provinces, in Antabamba and Cotabambas. He was the superior of the Agustina Congregation that works there in the area. His social and pastoral work is embodied precisely at work with communities. And as one of my tasks is to advise peasant communities in the field of influence of extractive projects, I had the possibility of dialogue with him and doing a joint job through even Caritas.
What did the day of his appointment think?
The emotion moved us on the day of his choice because we met him. I remember very well his knowledge of Peruvian reality at a meeting at the Episcopal Conference. Being Peruvian nationalized foreign, he knew the political issue very well. Our dialogues were around the situation. And he was very critical of the political class that governs us. That generates a lot of motivation.
Is it Christian and Catholic?
I am a Christian, I am Catholic. I even went to the seminar to be a priest when I was very young. I was in the Salesian Seminary. But due to a topic of discrepancies on training I could not consolidate an ecclesiastical career. I feel that training has been transcendental in my life. And it has allowed me to testify to my faith in the activities that I develop. Because I have just dedicated my whole life to social work. I have worked for many years in development cooperation, in international organizations and also outside the country. But I have also worked in the peasant communities, an activity that I still do until today. Especially helping in environmental and water sources. It is an issue that has marked my life. That is why it is my emotion when I speak of Monsignor Prevost, our Pope.
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What impression did he know when he knew him?
We had the opportunity to dialogue and see their work. He visited at that time the pastoral work carried out by the Augustinians in Apurímac. His work was missionary. As an Agustino was superior, he made periodic visits to supervise the work. He is a man who knows the reality of the country, is familiar with the problems of Peru. He was very critical of the political class we have and the actions that politicians do. He had a deep social sensitivity to work with high Andean populations and traditionally excluded peoples. He had a great vocation of service that moved. I believe a lot in the importance of life. Effort and work are rewarded. That social work of so many years in Peru had its effect by being chosen Pope of our Catholic Church.
There are plenty of candidates, but the leaders are missing. Prevost is austere and promotes unity in times of polarization and frivolity.
And I think that is the most transcendental: that silent work. That work of a lot of social sensitivity has transcended. I value that dialogue style that has as a potato. I also liked Pope Francis because he was a answer. Monsignor Prevost It has another style. It is much more dialogue, but it does not limit it when it comes to telling many truths that must be expressed.
Is the Pope progressive, like the previous one?
This dad He is progressive, like Francisco. The difference is that Francisco was more answering and expressed it. Monsignor Prevost It is more dialogue and diplomatic. That’s why I think he will be a determining actor for peace. Forms are worth a lot in diplomacy, which is what our violent instinct has stopped. And diplomacy is decisive in the Catholic Church. His voice imposes and for that requires leadership and that dialogue capacity. That allows you to address such sensitive issues as violence in the Middle East and Ukraine.
He Pope Leo XIV Can you mark the agenda in the campaign at 2026?
Definitely. And not only in Peru but also worldwide. Its position will always be taken into account. It has authority. The position that the Pope assumes will be decisive to seek peace, which is the objective of every society. And in internal politics, I am convinced that it will always support proposals that defend the peasant communities and proposals that allow to preserve the environment and fight against these deep social fractures that generate confrontation. I could not be a communist because that is class struggle and what we are looking for is not a confrontation between Peruvians but the unity.
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
“We are in a process of primary elections and we are looking for a consensus in the purple party. We want to show the country that there is an alternative against this carnival of candidates who are desperate for power. We have a center proposal, which thinks of the pragmatism of addressing central issues such as citizen insecurity. It is important that the population evaluates the candidates, their background and what they have done for the country. Congress.
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