The economic pastoral work of archbishop Lissón in response to social issues: Credit and aid against hardship (Lima, 1919-1931)

Abstract

This article examines the work of Archbishop Emilio Lissón in the local and global context of the 1920s, marked by post-World War I conditions, urban hardship, and social pressure. It explores the various social assistance mechanisms developed by the Archbishop to aid the faithful in the capital of Peru. The article outlines the pastoral motivations behind his actions and analyzes the implementation and outcomes of a specific effort: a savings bank and mount of piety, with the social credit programs it encompassed. It studies the developments of these programs and the trajectory of this financial institution. This study can contribute to discussions on the significance of economic pastoral work in twentieth-century Catholic concerns, the effects of specific programs, and their sustainability in early twentieth-century society.