Jesuit Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno has been Archbishop of Huancayo, in the Peruvian Andes, since 2004.
In May 2021the cardinal sparked controversy for statements that were interpreted as support for Pedro Castillo, then a candidate for the presidency of Peru and accused of having links to the communist terrorism of the Shining Path.
Interviewed by journalist Nicolás Lúcar in Exitosa, Cardinal Barreto criticized the video messages made by footballers who had been part of the Peruvian national team, in which they rejected communism, encouraged maintaining unity in the country and asked to vote for democracy and freedom.
The cardinal indicated that although “each citizen has the freedom to express his political position,” Peruvian athletes should not speak out “having as their emblem the sacred blouse (sports shirt) of Peru.” “This, it seems to me, is a political use.” that you have to fail,” he added.