Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno was born in Lima on 12 February 1944, entered the Jesuit novitiate there, studied philosophy at Alcalá de Henares in Spain and theology in Lima, was ordained a priest on 18 December 1971, and took his final vows in 1976. John Paul II named him titular bishop of Acufida and vicar apostolic of Jaén in Peru in 2001 (consecrated 1 January 2002), and on 17 July 2004 appointed him Archbishop of Huancayo, in the central Andes, where he served until his 80th birthday, 12 February 2024.
He headed the justice-and-peace work of the Latin American bishops (CELAM), became vice-president of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM), and served on the organizing committee of the 2019 Amazon Synod; he now presides over the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon. His environmental crusade began at home: speaking out against the La Oroya smelter, whose toxic gases poisoned the Andes with lead, he faced death threats from mining interests. Francis created him a cardinal on 28 June 2018, with the title of Santi Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense. His motto is En todo amar y servir — “in everything, love and serve.”
Consequential Quotes
Those who oppose Pope Francis want a static church, a church of doctrine, more than one of pastoral action. They want a church that is different to the one Jesus wants, which is a church of solidarity, a church that really responds to the needs of people, and of nature itself.
Major Works & Initiatives
Archbishop of Huancayo
Twenty years in Peru's breadbasket archdiocese in the Andes.
The La Oroya fight
Faced death threats for denouncing the smelter poisoning the Andes with lead.
The Amazon Synod
On the organizing committee; now president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.