Message from Cardinal Czerny to participants at the Amazon Water Summit – Iquitos 2025:
‘Water is not for sale or negotiation; it is to be shared, defended and celebrated.’
Under the slogan ‘We are water, we are life, we are hope’, Iquitos hosted the Amazon Water Summit from 1 to 3 October. This international meeting brought together over 300 participants from ten countries and various regions of the world.
The summit aimed to encourage reflection and articulate concrete actions to guarantee the human right to water and protect Amazonian rivers from growing threats such as illegal mining, oil spills, deforestation and climate change. Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, sent a message to the participants from Rome:
‘Water is not owned, sold, or traded; it is shared, defended, and celebrated. To speak of water is to speak of life itself, of the dignity of peoples, and of respect for creation”.
He emphasised that the Amazonian rivers are ‘like veins that give life, where every drop reflects the face of the Creator’, and highlighted the value of the ancestral wisdom of indigenous peoples, who teach that water is a shared resource, not a commodity. His message was a global call to defend water as a human right and a common good.
Despite being a region rich in water, Iquitos is thirsty for justice
Despite being surrounded by the Amazon, Nanay, and Itaya rivers and Lake Moronacocha, Iquitos faces an alarming shortage of drinking water: 60% of its population lacks continuous access, according to INEI. Thousands of families must consume water from contaminated rivers or rely on irregular cisterns, which increases the risk of disease.
During the inauguration, Monsignor Miguel Ángel Cadenas Cardo, the Apostolic Bishop of Iquitos, emphasised the importance of the Summit as a platform for collaboration and commitment:
‘The common good implies caring for the environment. Rivers are vital for food security. The Summit aims to bring together individuals and organisations with the same goal, encouraging collaborative efforts to safeguard this vital resource.”
Stories of resistance and hope
The Summit highlighted the resilience of communities affected by pollution. The Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos shared its experiences of supporting communities affected by oil spills in the Marañón region and those without access to water and sanitation in Punchana. Following a lengthy legal battle, the Constitutional Court recognised the violation of fundamental rights in 2023, ordering the State to provide drinking water. This sets a precedent that could inspire other Amazonian communities.
Barbara Fraser, coordinator of the Vicariate of Water, emphasised: ‘Community organisation changes realities. The Summit amplifies that voice of hope and demands that the rights of the poorest be fulfilled”.
Summit agenda and activities
The Amazon Water Summit developed a participatory agenda over three days, including: – Thematic forums on water, the indigenous worldview, climate change, food security, the rights of indigenous peoples, and extractivism
– Community workshops to share experiences and alternatives for sustainable management
– Intercultural encounters in nearby communities to promote direct dialogue between visitors and local residents
– Youth roundtables to empower adolescents and young people to defend water
The methodology prioritised active listening and consensus building, in line with the teachings of the Synod of the Amazon: walking together in defence of water.
The road to COP30 and the 2025 Jubilee
The closing of the Summit will include the Amazon Water Summit Declaration, gathering demands and proposals from Amazonian communities to be presented at national and international forums, including COP30 in Belém do Pará, Brazil. In the context of the Holy Year 2025, Cardinal Czerny emphasised that the Summit is a sign of hope and fraternity, and a call for social justice, respect for cultural diversity and care for our common home.
‘The voice of those who love this forest can forge paths of justice and fraternity. Their efforts will ensure that future generations inherit a habitable Earth with clean rivers, healthy forests and dignified communities.’
The Cardinal concluded by emphasising that the Church stands alongside the peoples of the Amazon, forging alliances between indigenous communities, riverine settlements, farmers, pastoral workers, young people, scientists and authorities, all working together to protect water as a source of life.
Source: Vatican News (Spanish)
