Gustavo Gutiérrez: Pioneering Voice for the Poor Passes Away at 96

Gustavo Gutiérrez, a Peruvian priest widely regarded as the founder of liberation theology, passed away on Tuesday in Lima, Peru, at the age of 96, as confirmed by the Dominican Order in the country. Gutiérrez, who dedicated his life to advocating for the poor and marginalized, authored “Teología de la Liberación,” a seminal work published in Spanish in 1971 and translated into English two years later as “A Theology of Liberation.” In this transformative text, he articulated the belief that, within Jewish and Christian traditions, God shows a distinct commitment to the needs of the impoverished.His writings not only challenged traditional theological views but also aligned with emerging grassroots movements in the United States that sought to affirm housing and healthcare as fundamental human rights. Gutiérrez posited that the salvation of the poor could be realized not only in the afterlife but in concrete actions taken to improve material existence on Earth. He argued that to truly understand God, one must engage in the struggle against poverty and social injustice.In his work, Gutiérrez famously asserted that advocating a “preferential option for the poor” was not about glorifying poverty but rather confronting and abolishing it as an evil condition. His groundbreaking concepts have left an indelible mark on both theological study and social activist movements, ensuring that his teachings remain significant in discussions surrounding poverty and social justice.