Next Tuesday, July 7 at 6 PM, Casa América presents in its Simón Bolívar Room the conversation Guatemala and the legacy of the Canary Saint Brother Pedro. 400 years of shared history, organized in collaboration with the University of La Laguna. Free entry until full capacity.
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of Saint Brother Pedro de San José Betancur, the first saint from the Canary Islands and Guatemala, a fundamental figure in social action and spirituality in the Hispanic American world. Born in Vilaflor (Tenerife) and moved at a young age to American lands, his life became deeply linked to the viceroyalty of Guatemala in the 17th century, where he developed an unprecedented humanitarian work marked by attention to the poor, sick, indigenous people, and marginalized individuals. His example transcended the religious sphere, making him one of the great historical references of Christian humanism in America.
This conversation proposes a journey through the historical, spiritual, and social dimension of Brother Pedro, particularly highlighting his decisive influence in the city of La Antigua Guatemala, then the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala and today a World Heritage city. It was there that the saint promoted pioneering initiatives in hospital assistance, literacy, and welcoming the most vulnerable, transforming the daily life of the city and leaving an indelible mark on its social and cultural fabric. Additionally, the foundation of the Order of the Betlemitas will be addressed, considered the first religious order born in America, and the profound legacy of his so-called “theology of tenderness,” based on compassion, human dignity, and service.
Finally, the meeting 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 remains alive in religious traditions, pilgrimage routes, and the material and immaterial heritage of La Antigua Guatemala, a city that preserves some of the main spaces linked to his work and spirituality. Four centuries after his birth, the figure of Brother Pedro continues to represent a symbol of brotherhood, solidarity, and unity between both Atlantic territories.
After welcoming words from Moisés Morera, programming director of Casa de América, and Jorge Skinner-Klée Arenales, ambassador of Guatemala, the conversation will feature Carmen Rosa Pérez Barrios, PhD in History from the University of La Laguna, and Inocente Cutzán, councilor II and president of the Commission of Economy, Tourism, and International Management of the Municipal Council of La Antigua Guatemala (online intervention). José Juan Cano, professor of Human Geography at the University of La Laguna and corresponding academic of the Academy of Geography and History of Guatemala, will moderate.
