Indigenous catechists crucial in Amazon River diocese, bishop tells Pope Leo
October 05, 2026
» Continue to this story on Vatican News (Portuguese)
CWN Editor's Note: Pope Leo XIV received Bishop Raimundo Vanthuy Neto of São Gabriel da Cachoeira—a Brazilian diocese about the size of the nation of Italy—on October 3.
Bishop Neto spoke for 20 minutes with the Pontiff about the diocese, where “24 different indigenous ethnic groups coexist and 18 distinct languages are spoken,” according to Vatican News. “As the diocese is essentially river-based, travel depends on boats and canoes, requiring missionaries and bishops to undertake long journeys to navigate past waterfalls and reach the most remote communities.”
Bishop Neto told Pope Leo that “the process of evangelization and formation relies heavily on the pivotal role of indigenous catechists,” according to the report. “To strengthen faith and leadership within the communities, extended training sessions are held, sometimes lasting up to 15 consecutive days, bringing together dozens of indigenous people from various regions.”
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