Tribute to Pedro Casaldáliga Plá
El CLACSO Working Group The future of work and caring for our common home stands in solidarity with the Brazilian people and pays tribute to Pedro Casaldáliga Plá, bishop emeritus of the Prelazia of São Félix do Araguaia (MT), who died on August 08, 2020.
Spanish, 93 years old, moved to Amazonia in 1968 and became a naturalized Brazilian. Historical personality of the Church of Latin America, a world reference in the defense of human rights. Outstanding defender of the poor and Pan-Amazônia.
A life totally dedicated to others poor, indigenous years, black povo years, quilombola years, workers and the defense of the Amazon.
Casaldáliga was the first religious to draw attention to the world's attention to the capital violence carried out against the people of the Amazon and the destruction of the environment. I was also the first to report the existence of slave labor in Brazil. In 1971, his first pastoral letter was titled “A church of the Amazon in conflict with the latifúndio and social marginalization.” This would be the tom of your atuação. Look at the Amazon and your lands as a source of life.
Pedro faced not only the power of agribusiness, but also military dictatorship. Helped to raise the Conselho Indigenista Missionário (Cimi) and the Comissão Pastoral da Terra (CPT), strong supporter of the MST (Movimento dos trabalhadores sem Terra) and two social movements and organizations of workers. Appointed by Paul VI, Peter was a poor bishop, stripped of power and ostentation. These bispos with an ovelha cheiro, their miter was a chapéu de camponês; His staff, a paddle, his ring was from Tucum. His house, simple and small, is always open for anyone. Without doubt, it is of the same magnitude as bishops such as Helder Câmara, Larraín, Samuel Ruiz, Pironio, Angelelli, Gerardi, Proano and Oscar Romero.
Pedro conferred on the Church that pan-Amazonian face assumed by the Synod of the Amazon.
His life spans no time. The memory of Casaldaliga inspires us with the urgency to take care of the Casa Comum, to defend the workers and denounce the situations that destroy the life of the people. Latin America. Calar would make us accomplices of an economy that kills, as Pope Francis reminds us.
“My causes are worth more than my life,” Pedro said. May his memory be an inspiration to continue fighting the same causes that will mark his life.
8 August 2020
Elio Gasda, on behalf of
CLACSO Working Group
The future of work and caring for our common home
This statement expresses the position of the Working Group The future of work and caring for our common home and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.
