“I praise, bless, and glorify God for this important moment that we are living in the Church with the recognition of the new saints, and in a very special way for Saint Giuseppe Allamano,” says Monsignor Roque Paloschi, Archbishop of Porto Velho, in the state of Rondônia, in the Brazilian Amazon.
By Jaime C. Patias *
Originally from Lajeado in Rio Grande do Sul, the bishop has always identified with the charisma passed on by Saint Giuseppe Allamano. As a diocesan priest, he went on mission to Mozambique (Africa) and to Roraima, the diocese where he served as bishop from 2005 to 2015. In this video produced by the Office for Communication in Rome, Monsignor Roque highlights the key characteristics of the new saint.
“For this awareness that the Gospel had to be known by all peoples and all nations, Allamano created the missionary institutes of the Consolata, both male and female, and sent missionaries to the peoples ad gentes. This was also true for us in Brazil, particularly in Roraima where I worked. It was a prophetic presence with the indigenous peoples. The love of God, the grace of God, is manifested in every way, and we also believe, as the Synod for the Amazon emphasized, that the Amazon is the place of God’s manifestation,” recalls the bishop. “The recognition of the miracle that occurred with the then young Sorino from the Yanomami people in the middle of the forest is the manifestation of God’s tenderness and goodness, which was made present through the care and zeal of the missionaries towards these peoples, who were often exploited, despised, and mistreated.”
Monsignor Roque Paloschi has been committed for many years to defending the environment and the rights of indigenous peoples. Between 2015 and 2023, he served as president of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), an organization of the Catholic Church in Brazil. On many occasions, the bishop has joined his voice with that of various leaders, such as Davi Kopenawa, Raoni Metuktire, Júlio Ye’Kwana, Sonia Guajajara, Joênia Whapichana, among others, to denounce rights violations, the invasion of territories, and the persecutions that these peoples are suffering at the hands of cattle ranchers and gold prospectors (garimpeiros). In 2022, the bishop received threats and various attacks in retaliation for his denunciations.
“Praised be God, and may the testimony of Saint Joseph Allamano help us to enlarge our hearts and to live especially the joy of a Church that goes out, a welcoming Church, a Church that serves, a Church committed to caring for all of creation,” concluded the bishop.
* Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Communication Office, Rome.
