Politicization and Division of Latin American Catholics in the Second Half of the 20th Century

The article analyzes the politicization and division of Latin American Catholicism after the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), arguing that its openness to modernity frac-tured doctrinal unity, giving rise to three currents: conserva-tives (opposed to changes), moderates (favoring gradual ad-aptation), and progressives (focused on social justice and Liberation Theology). Through a historical-documentary ap-proach, the study examines events such as the Medellín (1968) and Puebla (1979) Conferences, the impact of figures like Gustavo Gutiérrez, and the role of Base Ecclesial Com-munities (CEBs) in resisting dictatorships in Chile and Brazil. The text highlights how Liberation Theology, by prioritizing the poor and collaborating with Marxist movements, strained relations with the Vatican, leading to a conservative shift un-der John Paul II, who promoted ecclesial centralization and anti-communist alliances. The findings emphasize the internal fragmentation of Catholicism, the influence of the CEBs in re-constructing the social fabric during authoritarian regimes, and the Vatican’s counteroffensive aimed at neutralizing pro-gressive currents—revealing a shared project of re-Christianization, albeit from divergent perspectives. The methodology integrates analysis of conciliar documents, encyclicals, and socio-political studies, underscoring the interplay between religion, politics, and social movements in Latin America during the Cold War.