Cardinal Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, 81, stopped by Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Toronto on June 9, 2025. CTV News
A Peruvian cardinal with strong ties to Pope Leo XIV will soon arrive in Calgary. Cardinal Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, 81, plans to support protesters during the G7 summit happening next week in Alberta.
Cardinal Supports Climate Movement
Cardinal Barreto wants to highlight a growing issue—ecological debt. He believes rich countries owe something to poorer nations and Indigenous communities. This debt, he says, comes from damage done by industries based in developed nations. These include oil spills, mine pollution, and destruction of natural lands.
He explained this during a speech in Toronto on Monday. The event took place at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and was attended by dozens. The cardinal spoke through an interpreter and expressed his hope that rich nations, like Canada, take responsibility.
What Is Ecological Debt?
The term "ecological debt" refers to the harm caused to developing countries by environmental damage. This damage, Barreto says, often comes from companies that operate without regard for local communities. He pointed out that many nations spend huge amounts on debt payments, leaving little for basic needs.
A 2023 report from the World Bank found developing countries paid $1.4 trillion in foreign debt. Out of that, $406 billion went to interest alone. Barreto says this limits spending on health and education. He wants these debts canceled and the global financial system changed.
Hope for G7 Leadership
Barreto wants Canada and other G7 countries to step up. He hopes they admit their part in harming the environment. He wants them to forgive unfair debts and help build a better future for poorer nations.
“My hope, which is the hope of the church, is that the leaders of the northern rich countries will assume their responsibility in this situation,” said Barreto. “They have a really clear opportunity here to have a change in mentality towards debt.”
Continuing Pope Francis’s Work
Barreto is a Jesuit, like Pope Francis. He says he shares the late pope’s mission of helping the poor and protecting the planet. Although he didn’t vote in the recent papal election, he took part in meetings leading up to Pope Leo’s election. He said many cardinals wanted the new pope to follow the same path as Francis.
Barreto praised Pope Francis’s focus on social justice and climate care. He believes Pope Leo will continue that mission.
Calgary Visit for G7 Forum
The cardinal will take part in the G7 Jubilee People’s Forum in Calgary from June 12 to 15. This event will gather activists and church groups from around the world. They’ll talk about ecological debt and share ideas for change.
Barreto, the retired archbishop of Huancayo, is well known for standing up for the poor. He’s also known for defending the environment. Pope Francis named him a cardinal in 2018. Barreto once faced death threats for speaking out against a smelter polluting the Andes region.
