Cardinal Steiner condemns Amazon Indigenous violence

Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, the Archbishop of Manaus and a key voice in the Amazon, has condemned the escalating violence against Indigenous peoples, warning that their lands are being "coveted" by powerful interests.

The outspoken cardinal’s remarks come as illegal mining, logging, and land grabs surge in the Amazon, fueled by weakening environmental protections under Brazil’s far-right government. Indigenous leaders have reported a sharp rise in invasions of their territories, often met with intimidation and bloodshed. Steiner, a close ally of Pope Francis, has long highlighted the Amazon’s ecological and social crises, framing the struggle as a moral and existential battle for the region’s survival.

In his exclusive interview with Crux Now, Steiner linked the violence to a broader pattern of exploitation, where Indigenous communities face displacement and murder for resisting encroachment on their lands. Last year alone, over 200 Indigenous people were killed in Brazil, according to the Catholic Church’s Indigenous Missionary Council. The cardinal’s warnings echo those of global climate scientists, who say protecting Indigenous territories is critical to curbing deforestation and climate change.

With Brazil’s general elections looming in October, Steiner’s comments add pressure on candidates to address the Amazon’s future. Analysts say the next administration will determine whether the trend of lawlessness and environmental destruction continues—or if the rainforest and its guardians might finally receive the protection they urgently need.