A newly unearthed 1995 photograph captures Pope Leo XIV kneeling in a Pachamama ritual, raising grave questions about his past involvement in practices condemned as idolatrous by Catholic tradition.
Story Highlights
- 1995 photo from São Paulo symposium shows then-priest Robert Prevost kneeling during “Celebration of the Pachamama Rite,” verified by three Augustinian priests and official 1996 proceedings.
- Image surfaced March 18, 2026, via LifeSiteNews and Infovaticana, contrasting Leo XIV’s recent anti-nature worship statements.
- Pachamama linked to Andean earth-mother worship, criticized as pagan idolatry akin to 2019 Vatican scandal.
Discovery of the 1995 Photograph
Fr. Charles Murr uncovered a photograph from the January 1995 symposium *Ecotheology: A Perspective from Saint Augustine* in São Paulo, Brazil. The image depicts Robert Francis Prevost, then a 40-year-old Augustinian priest now Pope Leo XIV, kneeling in a circle around an altar during a ritual captioned “Celebration of the Pachamama Rite (mother earth).” Three fellow Augustinian priests identified Prevost. Order of St. Augustine magazines provide further corroboration through photos of him at subsequent Eucharistic celebrations on the same site. The photo appeared in the official 1996 proceedings book, ensuring its documented origin.
Pachamama’s Controversial Roots
Pachamama represents Andean indigenous worship of an earth-mother figure, prominent in Peru and Bolivia through agricultural rites. The 1995 event blended Catholic theology with these indigenous practices. Critics highlight the ritual’s non-Christian elements, including kneeling around an altar later used for Mass, which heightens scandal claims. This mirrors the 2019 Amazon Synod, where Pachamama statues appeared on Vatican altars, were venerated near St. Peter’s tomb, and condemned by Bishop Athanasius Schneider as pagan symbol veneration. Such syncretism alarms those upholding Catholic prohibitions against idolatry.
Verification and Key Confirmations
Fr. Murr’s months-long research sourced the unaltered images directly from the 1996 book. Augustinian witnesses affirm Prevost’s participation, distinguishing this from mere cultural dialogue—caption and posture indicate active rite involvement. LifeSiteNews published the story on March 18, 2026, with Infovaticana reporting similarly. No evidence suggests digital fabrication. Prevost’s South American missionary work in the 1980s-1990s placed him in ecotheological circles, contextualizing but not excusing the documented actions for traditional observers.
Pope Leo XIV’s August 2025 instruction to CEAMA bishops explicitly warned against “worship of creation or Mother Earth,” prohibiting subjection as a “slave or worshiper of nature.” Video hosts label this “Leo was the Pachamama scandal,” linking to 2019 events.
https://t.co/i52uCssw2d
UNEARTHED: 1995 photo shows Pope Leo[ XIV participating in Pachamama ritual. In an explosive revelation that will feature prominently in his forthcoming book on the new pontiff, Faith & Reason co-host Fr. Charles Murr has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV — then… pic.twitter.com/tuRsMrWhfr— Old South Meeting House (@BostonCharlie5) March 19, 2026
Implications for Catholic Orthodoxy
The revelation erodes trust among traditionalist Catholics, who view kneeling in a Pachamama rite as objectively scandalous for a mature priest. It fuels Vatican culture wars, questioning Leo XIV’s consistency on inculturation versus idolatry. Long-term, it may influence synodal reforms and Amazon policies. Affected communities include scandalized faithful and Latin American indigenous groups debating syncretism. Traditionalist outlets like LifeSiteNews amplify scrutiny, while the Vatican issues general deepfake warnings without addressing these specific, verified photos. This underscores tensions between orthodoxy and perceived progressive dilutions of faith.
Sources:
Photographs of Robert Prevost kneeling in worship of the Pachamama come to light
Vatican struggles against spread of deepfake images of Pope Leo XIV
