Serving indigenous communities across six continents
Priority regions and languages for the Congregation's apostolate
Priority Languages: Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, Tzotzil, Mixtec, Zapotec
Ancient Christianized cultures with large Catholic populations and critically endangered languages. Home to the first indigenous-language liturgies in the Americas.
Priority Languages: Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní
Major indigenous languages with partial liturgical recognition. Millions of speakers across Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Paraguay. Strong Catholic presence with deep syncretism challenges.
Priority Languages: Ticuna, Yanomami, Asháninka, Tupi-Guaraní
Critical ecological and linguistic frontier. Mandate from the Synod for the Amazon (2019). Extreme endangerment due to deforestation and displacement.
Priority Languages: Bamileke, Igbo, Yoruba, Luo, isiZulu, Shona
Rapidly growing Church with colonial language suppression. Need for biblical translation in hundreds of languages. Headquarters in Nigeria serves as base for expansion.
Priority Languages: Tagalog, Tamil, Mongolian, Karen, Hmong
Diverse Catholic communities across the Philippines, India, Mongolia, and Southeast Asia. Significant endangered language hotspots requiring urgent documentation.
Priority Languages: Māori, Fijian, Samoan, Tok Pisin, Aboriginal
Post-colonial language revitalization with strong Catholic presence in the Pacific. Australian Aboriginal languages among the most endangered in the world.
Six pillars of the linguistic mission
Translating Holy Scripture, liturgical texts, and devotional works into indigenous languages with the highest standards of linguistic accuracy and doctrinal fidelity. Collaboration with the Holy See and episcopal conferences for necessary permissions.
Creating grammars, dictionaries, and orthographies for endangered indigenous languages. Establishing archives and digital repositories of oral traditions, songs, and narratives. Training indigenous linguists and language activists.
Operating schools and programs providing bilingual education (indigenous language and national language). Developing pedagogical materials for indigenous language acquisition. Founding centers for indigenous studies at Catholic universities.
Defending the linguistic rights of indigenous peoples before civil authorities. Opposing policies of forced assimilation or language suppression. Promoting the use of indigenous languages in public life, media, and governance.
Encouraging theological reflection and spiritual writing in indigenous languages. Supporting the development of indigenous liturgical music, art, and architecture. Facilitating the ordination of indigenous clergy fluent in their ancestral tongues.
Operating radio stations, television programs, websites, and social media channels in indigenous languages. Producing audio recordings of Scripture, catechesis, and traditional wisdom. Developing fonts, keyboards, and software for indigenous scripts.