The Missionary Pope's Amazonian Legacy

Pope Leo XIV's upcoming encyclical "Aqua et Silva" (Water and Forest) draws heavily from his missionary years (1985-1998) in Peru's Amazon basin. The document, leaked to journalists, contains unprecedented ecological directives: requiring carbon-neutral parishes, banning single-use plastics at Vatican events, and establishing "creation care" as a new corporal work of mercy. "I watched rivers that baptized generations turn brown with mercury," recalls the pontiff about illegal gold mining operations. His experiences as Bishop of Chiclayo (2015-2023) further cemented this commitment - he famously rode a bicycle to confirmations to reduce emissions. The encyclical mandates solar panels for all church properties by 2040 and creates an "Eco-Confession" rite for environmental sins. Oil companies have already protested, but indigenous groups hail it as "finally, a pope who's breathed our air."