The Supreme Pontiff, who has repeatedly expressed his support for the fight against climate change - and has also supported on countless occasions the implementation of the Paris Agreement - chose to visit Madre de Dios, as his first destination in Peru, because this region is home to an ethnic and cultural diversity for about 3 thousand years, and native peoples belonging to 7 linguistic groups, according to the Federation of Madre de Dios River and tributaries (Fenamad). In addition, this area of the Amazon is considered one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.

On the other hand, Madre de Dios has been hard hit by illegal mining and, according to the Peruvian Society of Environmental Law, 173,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed in 17 years. At the same time, ecosystems have been contaminated and social problems have been generated, such as an increase in human trafficking. Illegal mining and indiscriminate logging generate various problems in indigenous communities, but at the same time populations in voluntary isolation are threatened.

Under this evidence, Pope Francis held a special meeting with indigenous people from Peru, Brazil and Bolivia, who made known the problems they face, among which are the degradation of forests, the loss of their lands, the violation of their rights, among others. The response of the Supreme Pontiff focused on a speech of protection of life and the Amazon.