Leonidas Proaño
Encyclopedia
Leonidas Eduardo Proaño Villalba (born 1910 in San Antonio de Ibarra, Ecuador
; died 1988 in Quito
, Ecuador) was an Ecuadorian priest
and theologian. He served as the bishop
of Riobamba
from 1954 to 1985. He was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize
and is considered one of the most important figures in Ecuadorian liberation theology
.
Proaño was ordained as a priest in 1936 and soon became interested in the latest trends Catholic social doctrine. Within the Ibarra diocese, he created the Juventud Obrera Cristiana (Christian Youth Workers). He was named bishop of Riobamba in 1954. From his cathedral in Riobamba, he fought constantly to introduce social justice in relations with indigenous people and to promote indigenous access to public life and political power (he thus became known as "the bishop of the Indians"). He enthusiastically adopted the thesis of liberation theology. In 1960, he created the Escuelas Radiofónicas Populares, with a clear educational goal. In 1962, he created the Center of Studies and Social Action to aid the development of indigenous communities. In 1973, he was accused of guerrila warfare and had to stand trial in Rome, but he was cleared of all charged. In 1976, he was jailed during the dictatorship of Guillermo Rodríguez Lara. In 1985, he renounced the bishopric and was named president of the Pastoral Indígena.
His writings include Rupito (1953), Creo en el Hombre y en la Comunidad (1977), El Evangelio Subversivo (1987), and Concienciación, Evangelización y Política (1987).
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
; died 1988 in Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, Ecuador) was an Ecuadorian priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and theologian. He served as the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Riobamba
Riobamba
Riobamba is the capital of the Chimborazo Province in central Ecuador, which is located at the Chambo River Valley of the Andes. It is south of Ecuador's capital Quito and located at 2754 m on the Avenue of the Volcanoes...
from 1954 to 1985. He was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
and is considered one of the most important figures in Ecuadorian liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
.
Proaño was ordained as a priest in 1936 and soon became interested in the latest trends Catholic social doctrine. Within the Ibarra diocese, he created the Juventud Obrera Cristiana (Christian Youth Workers). He was named bishop of Riobamba in 1954. From his cathedral in Riobamba, he fought constantly to introduce social justice in relations with indigenous people and to promote indigenous access to public life and political power (he thus became known as "the bishop of the Indians"). He enthusiastically adopted the thesis of liberation theology. In 1960, he created the Escuelas Radiofónicas Populares, with a clear educational goal. In 1962, he created the Center of Studies and Social Action to aid the development of indigenous communities. In 1973, he was accused of guerrila warfare and had to stand trial in Rome, but he was cleared of all charged. In 1976, he was jailed during the dictatorship of Guillermo Rodríguez Lara. In 1985, he renounced the bishopric and was named president of the Pastoral Indígena.
His writings include Rupito (1953), Creo en el Hombre y en la Comunidad (1977), El Evangelio Subversivo (1987), and Concienciación, Evangelización y Política (1987).