. . . Pacwa, who is familiar with Pachamama worship from his work in Peru, was not impressed by the attempts of the Vatican’s Communications team
to spin the figures as mere symbols of fertility and motherhood.
“Knock it off,” he said with uncharacteristic anger. “We’re not stupid. We’re not. This is an idol.”
One fruit of syncretistic Catholic interest in Pachamama has the appearance of a prayer to the pagan goddess
published by the Mission Office of the Italian Bishops’ Conference.
Pacwa went on to read part of a “prayer” to Pachamama that was
published by the Mission Office of the Italian Bishops’ Conference in the leadup to the Amazon Synod: “Pachamama of these places, drink and eat as much as you like of these offerings, so that this land may be fruitful. Pachamama, good Mother, be propitious!”
“Stop,” Pacwa shouted. “You’re talking about making an offering to a goddess that the people of the Andes put higher than Jesus and his Blessed Mother.”
The priest told his audience that “Pachamama was still adored and worshipped in Peru, especially in the mountains.
“She was part of a hierarchy of deities,” Pacwa explained.
“The gods of the mountains were the chief deities. Pachamama, or Mother Earth, was under them. Below Pachamama were Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints. And then the rest of us. So they had integrated Pachamama into a pseudo-Catholic view of the world.”
Pacwa stressed that there is only one God, one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“There is no other god!” he proclaimed.
The priest said he hoped that the Conference of Italian Bishops had no idea the prayer had been published in their name. . . .
. . . do we look to
Pachamama to give her sacrifices, something we may not do to the Blessed Mother! We cannot offer her sacrifices! Sacrifices are offered to God and to God alone!” he continued,.
“This other nonsense has to stop. And it’s spreading.”
