One of the new cardinals is Peruvian Pedro Barreto Jimeno, archbishop of Huancayo, who says he didn't believe the pope had given him the honor until he saw the story on Rome Reports.
MSGR. PEDRO BARRETO
Archbishop of Huancayo (Peru)
“What convinced me and excited me is that Rome Reports sent me a notification for the video in which the pope said, 'Msgr. Pedro Barreto, archbishop of Huancayo, will be named cardinal.'”
For years, Barreto has been working actively with Repam, the Panamazonian Ecclesial Network. Thus, his nomination has been seen as a way of giving a voice in the Church to these population that have been unheard.
MSGR. PEDRO BARRETO
Archbishop of Huancayo (Peru)
“It put me in the heart of the Church, as well as Rome in that of the Amazon. The pope wanted to begin in the Amazon, in Puerto Maldonado with his visit to Peru, and he said that. He spoke of the suffering of the indigenous, but with much hope for how the Church wants to look, to venture out.”
Barreto says being named cardinal was something unexpected and undeserved, and he hopes it will help him be more at the service of others. He has considered four priorities.
MSGR. PEDRO BARRETO
Archbishop of Huancayo (Peru)
“First, it's all ecology, care for our common home, not only the Amazon, but also the general care for our common home. Second, the fight against extreme poverty. The third great challenge is the woman, regarding feminicide and domestic violence. The fourth and final issue, which doesn't only involve Peru, is the large amount of existing corruption, a corruption that's the worst political cancer.”
John Paul II named him bishop, and Benedict XVI gave him the pallium. He's also spiritually aligned with Pope Francis, as they're both Jesuits, though he says he's a priest faithful to the pope, whoever he is.
