Casa de América and the University of La Laguna are organizing the conversation “Guatemala and the Legacy of the Canary Islander Saint Brother Pedro: 400 Years of Shared History” on July 7. The event will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the Simón Bolívar Room (entrance via Plaza de Cibeles, s/n). Admission is free until capacity is reached. It will also be available to watch via live stream.
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of Saint Brother Pedro de San José Betancur, the first saint of the Canary Islands and Guatemala, a key figure in social action and spirituality in the Hispanic world. Born in Vilaflor (Tenerife) and moved to the Americas at a young age, his life became deeply intertwined with 17th-century colonial Guatemala, where he carried out unprecedented humanitarian work focused on caring for the poor, the sick, indigenous people, and the marginalized. His example transcended the religious sphere, making him one of the great historical figures of Christian humanism in the Americas.
This discussion proposes an exploration of the historical, spiritual, and social dimensions of Brother Pedro, highlighting in particular his decisive influence on the city of Antigua Guatemala, then the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala and now a World Heritage City. It was there that the saint promoted pioneering initiatives in hospital care, literacy programs, and the welcoming of the most vulnerable, transforming the daily life of the city and leaving an indelible mark on its social and cultural fabric. The discussion will also address the founding of the Order of the Bethlehemites, considered the first religious order established in the Americas, and the profound legacy of his so-called “theology of tenderness,” based on compassion, human dignity, and service.
Finally, the event will reflect on the contemporary relevance of Brother Pedro’s legacy as a historical and cultural bridge between the Canary Islands and Central America. His memory lives on in the religious traditions, pilgrimage routes, and tangible and intangible heritage of Antigua Guatemala, a city that preserves some of the main sites linked to his work and spirituality. Four centuries after his birth, the figure of Brother Pedro continues to represent a symbol of fraternity, solidarity, and unity between the two Atlantic territories.
Welcome:
– Moisés Morera, Programming Director of Casa de América.
– Jorge Skinner-Klée Arenales, Ambassador of Guatemala.
Participants:
– Carmen Rosa Pérez Barrios, PhD in History from the University of La Laguna.
– Inocente Cutzán, Councilor II and President of the Commission on Economy, Tourism, and International Management of the Municipal Council of Antigua Guatemala (online participation).
– Leo Fuentes, member of the Order of the Brothers of Bethlehem (Bethlemites).
Moderator: José Juan Cano, Professor of Human Geography at the University of La Laguna and Corresponding Member of the Academy of Geography and History of Guatemala.