By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-22 22:21:24 | Updated at 2024-11-23 11:12:13
12 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // The outspoken Brazilian Bishop who condemned the worship of the Pachamama and was expelled from his see by the Vatican after his retirement just died this week.
The Order of Augustinian Recollects and the Catholic Church mourn the death of Monsignor José Luis Azcona Hermoso, emeritus Bishop of the Prelature of Marajó in the Brazilian Amazon. Bishop Azcona, who died on November 20, 2024, leaves behind a legacy of fearless defense of the faith and an indelible mark on the Church.
Born on March 9, 1940, in Pamplona, Spain, Bishop Azcona joined the Order of Augustinian Recollects in 1961, later earning a doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Institute in Rome. Ordained a priest in 1963, he held several significant roles within the order, including Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova and novice master in Colombia and Spain. In 1985, he began his missionary work in the Amazon and was ordained bishop of the Prelature of Marajó two years later.
Bishop Azcona’s nearly three decades of episcopal ministry in Marajó were defined by his unwavering defense of the vulnerable, including indigenous communities, victims of human trafficking, and exploited children. He fearlessly opposed systemic injustices, often at great personal risk, earning both admiration and threats for his steadfast commitment to human rights.
Critique of the Amazon Synod
Bishop Azcona was a prominent voice during the 2019 Amazon Synod, where he expressed strong concerns about its working document, the Instrumentum Laboris. As reported by Catholic News Agency (CNA), he criticized it for failing to address the region’s most pressing issues, such as the rise of Pentecostalism, human trafficking, and child abuse. “The Amazon, at least the Brazilian Amazon, is no longer Catholic,” he said at the time, noting that in some areas, Pentecostal communities comprised up to 80% of the population.
He condemned what he described as “a distorted vision of the so-called Amazonian face,” arguing that such an approach distracted from the Gospel’s transformative power. “Any nostalgia for an Amazon that no longer exists is fatal to its integral evangelization,” he warned. Bishop Azcona emphasized that the synod overlooked critical issues such as the spiritual crisis in the region and the pervasive abuse of children, which he described as “an essential part of the abandoned and destroyed face of Jesus in the Amazon.”
Denouncing Pachamama Rituals
Bishop Azcona’s most scathing critique of the synod concerned the controversial Pachamama statues used during a Vatican Gardens ceremony. The statues, representing a nude pregnant woman, were allegedly presented as symbols of life and indigenous culture. Bishop Azcona vehemently opposed this, calling the ceremony a “scandalous, demonic sacrilege.”
“Mother Earth should not be worshiped because everything, even the earth, is under the dominion of Jesus Christ,” he declared in an October 20, 2019, homily, as reported by LifeSiteNews. “Pachamama is not and never will be the Virgin Mary. To say that this statue represents the Virgin is a lie. She is not Our Lady of the Amazon because the only Lady of the Amazon is Mary of Nazareth.”
He further warned that incorporating such rituals into Catholic practice blurred doctrinal lines and risked fostering syncretism. “These are scandalous demonic sacrileges, especially for the little ones who are not able to discern,” he cautioned.
Opposition to Viri Probati
Bishop Azcona also opposed the proposal to ordain viri probati—married men of proven virtue—as priests to address the Amazon’s clergy shortage, according to CNA. He argued that such measures would fail to resolve the Church’s deeper issues, particularly the spiritual and vocational crisis.
“Why ordain viri probati within a priesthood in crisis?” he asked, emphasizing the need for repentance and renewal. “The perfect and perpetual continence of the Kingdom of Heaven will continue being a sign of encouragement of pastoral charity and the original source of spiritual fruitfulness within the Amazon,” he said.
Bishop Azcona warned that adopting such changes in the current context could exacerbate tensions within the Church and risk a schism. “The danger of schism is not imaginary! Nor in the Amazon!” he stated, emphasizing that decisions must prioritize unity and charity above ideological divisions.
A Controversial Departure
After his retirement in 2016, Bishop Azcona continued to serve as a vocal advocate for justice and faith. However, in December 2023, the apostolic nuncio to Brazil, Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, requested that the emeritus Bishop Azcona leave the Prelature of Marajó before the installation of his successor, Bishop José Ionilton Lisboa de Oliveira. This request, made without explanation, sparked confusion among clergy and laypeople alike, as CatholicVote reported at the time.
Bishop Lisboa de Oliveira, known for his support of liberation theology and ties to the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM), represented a pastoral shift in the prelature. Azcona had previously criticized REPAM for promoting indigenous rituals that he argued compromised Catholic doctrine.
Legacy of Courage and Faith
Azcona’s life was marked by a fearless defense of the faith, even in the face of threats and controversy. He often spoke of the importance of discernment, urging the Church to distinguish between influences of the Holy Spirit and those of the world or the demonic. The Order of Augustinian Recollects described him as a man of prayer and dedication, stating, “His life of prayer, his commitment, and his dedication to the service of the least will remain a source of inspiration.”
