Yánkuam’ Jintia Luis Bolla was born in Schio on 11 August 1932 from a deeply Christian family. At the age of 12, in the chapel of the oratory, he heard a voice saying: “You shall be a missionary in the jungle among the natives and you will give them my Word. You will walk a lot on foot.”
He made his first Salesian vows on 16 August 1949. In 1953, at the age of 21, he left for Ecuador, where after his theological studies, he was ordained a priest on 28 October 1959. He had quickly learned Spanish and the Shuar language, but the call of the Lord was another: He wanted him to give his life to the Achuar people. Noting that the greatest number of Achuar was in Peru, in February 1984 he passed definitively to that Province to work in the Apostolic Vicariate of Yurimaguas. Years of solitude and isolation awaited him because of the distance and lack of confreres with whom to form a community. Without losing his Salesian and priestly identity, he identified himself with the Achuar people. Despite dangers and difficulties of all kinds, he never lost faith in God. He continued to study the customs, ethnology and culture of the Achuar.
His main mission was always to proclaim the Gospel to all the Achuars, whom he loved as children. At the same time, he worked tenaciously to accompany the Achuar people in their organization, encouraged their education and took care of the health and development of these people, who loved and appreciated him, calling him: “Yánkuam’ Jintia: Light star of the path”. He died in Lima on 6 February 2013.
The Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, wrote: “The spiritual and cultural heritage of Father Bolla is extraordinary and the start of his Cause of Beatification allows us to preserve, deepen and transmit it. Moreover, the relevance of this Cause is the great breadth it takes in relation to the celebration of the Synod of Bishops on the theme of Amazonia: new paths for the Church and for an integral ecology. A Synod that, as Father Bolla did, starts from listening to the indigenous peoples and communities living in the Amazon.”
Yánkuam' Jintia, the star of the forest on his way to the altars[]
Fuente: ANS.
(ANS – 28 May 2025, Lima) – A story of silent holiness, woven between the rivers, the forest and the indigenous faces of the Amazon – in Ecuador and, above all, in Peru over the last 30 years – is approaching a new dawn. On Friday 30 May, coinciding providentially with the month of Mary Help of Christians, the diocesan phase of the process of beatification and canonisation of the Servant of God Fr Luis (Luigi) Bolla, known to the Achuar people as ‘Yánkuam' Jintia’, ‘the star that lights the way’, will conclude in Lima.
The closing session will take place at the Archbishop’s Palace in Lima, in the heart of the Peruvian capital. Presided over by Cardinal Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, Archbishop of Lima and Primate of Peru, it will also be attended by the Postulator General of the Salesian Congregation, Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, SDB, and his collaborator, Fr Gabriel Cruz, SDB, who have come specially from Rome.
Members of the Diocesan Tribunal will also be present: Fr Sandro Gabriele Carbone Carbone, delegate of the Archbishop; Fr Edwin Limas Falcón, OSJ, Promoter of Justice; and Notary Actuary Fr Manuel Ernesto Zegarra Basurco. All have zealously and rigorously followed up the collection of testimonies, documents and reports of graces and signs related to the life and virtues of Fr Bolla.
The Cause was officially introduced on 27 September 2021, with the issuance of the edict by the Archbishop of Lima. Since then, the process has faced many challenges. In the midst of the pandemic, with the restrictions imposed by the health situation and the dispersion of witnesses – many of whom live in the depths of the Amazon or in places that are difficult to reach – a strategy of remote interviews was adopted, with the necessary authorisation from the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
Born in Schio (Vicenza), Italy, in 1932, Luigi Bolla professed as a Salesian of Don Bosco and was ordained a priest with a single desire: to give his life to the missions. He heard the voice of God when he was only 11 years old: ‘You will be a priest.’ This desire was fulfilled in the forest on the border between Peru and Ecuador, where he lived for over 50 years among the Shuar and Achuar peoples. He was not a passing evangeliser: he learned the language, adopted the customs, travelled long distances along tracks and rivers, and above all loved the indigenous people, proclaiming the message of the Gospel in an original way.
His death in Lima in 2013 left an indelible mark. Today, his figure is re-emerging with force, not out of nostalgia, but out of recognition of a life that defies oblivion.
With the conclusion of this diocesan phase, all the documentation collected will be sent to Rome, where, after the diocesan inquiry has been validated, the Positio will be drafted with a view to recognising the heroic virtues of the Servant of God.
For many, the name Yánkuam' Jintia is not only a living memory but a prophecy in progress. The star that illuminated the Achuar forest may soon shine in the firmament of the Saints of the Church.
Kuyuntsa, the Village Loved by Fr. Bolla[]
Source: ANS
(ANS – 16 April 2025, Kuyuntsa) – As the diocesan phase of the beatification and canonization process of the Servant of God Fr. Luis (Luigi) Bolla, SDB, nears its conclusion, attention turns to the village he loved so dearly: Kuyuntsa.
In 1984, Fr. Bolla had already been serving in Peru. He was warmly welcomed by Bishop Miguel Irízar CP, then Apostolic Vicar of Yurimaguas, who assigned him to work among the indigenous Achuar people.
Upon his arrival in Peru, Fr. Bolla's first priority was to observe, listen, and understand. His successor, Bishop José Luis Astigarraga CP, fully supported his efforts to inculturate the Gospel within the Achuar community.
His Mission: Kuyuntsa
At that point, Fr. Bolla had already spent many years as a missionary in Ecuador. Sensing that the Peruvian Achuar were lacking in pastoral care, he made the bold decision to leave Ecuador and settle in Kuyuntsa, which became his new and beloved home.
“He chose Kuyuntsa and Sanchiik as his base, but he never failed to visit other Achuar communities and neighboring ethnic groups,” the chronicles recount. “He traveled long distances on foot, by canoe or inflatable raft, under the scorching sun or pouring rain, yet never lost his joyful spirit and enthusiasm.”
During his time in Kuyuntsa and Sanchiik, Fr. Bolla immersed himself in the cultural and spiritual worldview of the Achuar: their myths and traditions, their deep respect for nature, and their cultural identity and defense of their land. This commitment earned him the admiration of the Achuar people and recognition from both national and international institutions.
One of his closest friends, Peas – a wise elder of the community who was nearly blind and highly respected – said of him: “I have passed on all my knowledge to Yánkuam’” (the Achuar name given to Fr. Bolla), “whom I love like a true brother.”
Writing as a Contribution to Culture
Anyone who visited Fr. Bolla’s home in Kuyuntsa would have seen that one room had been turned into his personal office, complete with a typewriter and stacks of paper. Yánkuam’ understood the fragility of oral traditions and the risk they faced of disappearing over time.
With his background in anthropology, ethnology, philology, history, and geography, he developed a written form of the Achuar language so that children and young people could learn to read and write in their mother tongue. He also produced a vast range of educational materials in Achuar.
His contributions to translation were monumental—he even completed a translation of the New Testament. Unfortunately, the Old Testament was left unfinished.
His personal writings reflect the life of a man deeply in love with God and passionately committed to the well-being of indigenous peoples. His sole mission was to proclaim Jesus Christ, a task he fulfilled with courage and patient dedication, relying entirely on God’s help.
Now, as the diocesan phase of the beatification process of the Servant of God Luigi Bolla comes to a close, it is fitting and important to remember his legacy and to encourage others to learn about the life of this remarkable Salesian priest and missionary among the Achuar people.
Fr Bolla ‘Yankuam’: much more than a missionary[]
Fuente: ANS
(ANS – 07 February 2025, Lima) – 12 years and one day ago, on 6 February 2013, the Servant of God Fr Luis (Luigi) Bolla, a Salesian missionary known among the indigenous Achuar people as ‘Yankuam’ (a word in the local language that means ‘Twilight Path’) died in Lima. For the life he lived, however, the simple title of ‘missionary’ is too limited: he was a radical witness to the Gospel who transformed his vision of evangelisation while discovering the profound value of the culture and dignity of the indigenous peoples.
Luigi Bolla was born in Italy in 1932 and felt a vocation for missionary service from a young age. After becoming a Salesian, he was sent to Ecuador, to the Apostolic Vicariate of Méndez, a region dominated by the Shuar and Achuar ethnic groups. In a context where the predominant idea was to ‘civilise’ the Amazonian peoples, Fr Bolla soon realised that his mission was not to impose a foreign culture, but to accompany and strengthen the identity of these peoples.
For a long time, missionary work in the region had consisted of placing children and young people in educational institutions with the intention of ‘integrating’ them into the mestizo society. Fr Bolla, however, discovered that this method led to a loss of identity and a sense of inferiority among the indigenous people. Instead of seeing them as ‘savages’ who needed to be transformed, he recognised them as a noble people with a rich culture and much to teach.
In his writings, Fr Bolla emphasised that the dignity of a human being lies in his identity and sense of belonging. For this reason, he endeavoured to learn the language and customs of the Achuar, earning their respect and trust. He never criticised their culture, but tried to understand it and accompany it in its evolution, without losing its essence.
The Second Vatican Council had a profound influence on the way Fr Bolla understood his missionary work. The openness of the Church towards an inculturated evangelisation provided him with the basis for his work. His goal was not to ‘convert’ the Achuar into Christianised westerners, but to proclaim the Gospel starting from their reality, respecting their worldview and accompanying them on their journey of faith.
Fr Bolla dedicated his entire life to the Achuar, living among them, sharing their daily life and learning from their wisdom. His main concern was that, in their process of change and modernisation, they would not lose their pride and identity.
‘Yankuam’ was not only a missionary, but a brother to the Achuar, a witness of faith and a bridge between cultures. His legacy still lives on in the Amazon rainforest and in the memory of those who continue his work.
Fr Bolla's beatification process is underway and his figure is remembered with great respect and admiration. His life leaves everyone with a clear message: evangelising does not mean imposing, but accompanying with humility and love, recognising the beauty of every culture and the dignity of every person.
From dreams to jungle: a spiritual and cultural journey in the unknown Kuyuntsa[]
Fuente: ANS
(ANS – 13 August 2024, Kuyuntsa) – Several decades ago, young Salesian missionary Luis (Luigi) Bolla left his life in Italy, driven by an inner voice that called him to explore lands unknown to him, but known to God. "You will have to walk a long way, carrying my Word," said the mysterious character who would change the course of his life.
A discovery changed everything
Initially stationed in Ecuador, he soon discovered that the indigenous people of the eastern region of the country, the Achuar, lacked spiritual assistance. Motivated by this discovery, he decided to join the Salesian Province of Peru, thus marking the beginning of a new era, not only for his life.
Ordained a priest in 1959, during his first Mass Fr Bolla expressed three wishes to the Lord: to allow him to learn the difficult language of the Shuar, to be an instrument of his work and to reach the most remote places. And the Lord granted these requests of his, in the face of his determination and his faith.
The journeys to Kuyuntsa, a crucial point of his mission, were long and tiring. Today, reaching Kuyuntsa from Lima involves a three-day journey: a flight to Tarapoto, followed by a trip by car to San Lorenzo, where there is a Salesian community, and finally eleven hours on a small boat to the place where the work of the Servant of God Fr Bolla resonated.
Even today, Fr Bolla's life continues to be perpetuated in the memory of those to whom he dedicated his entire life: the indigenous people of the Amazon jungle, who found in him a messenger of faith and above all of concrete love and forgiveness. Fr Bolla has changed not only the spiritual life, but the life tout court of the Achuar.
A dedication that lasts over time
A few weeks ago, after hours of travel by plane, land and river, Juan Pablo Alcas, Superior of the Santa Rosa Province of Peru, also reached Kuyuntsa with a small team. This was the place where Fr Bolla spent countless hours living and writing about his missionary undertakings.
This journey took the Salesians through the breathtaking landscapes that the Amazon has to offer, with wonderful dawns, crystal clear waters and dreamlike scenery. After about eleven hours by boat, the party arrived almost without warning at the village of Kuyuntsa. The early arrival surprised everyone and soon the welcoming voice resounded: "Fr Juan Pablo has arrived!", shouted the children who played nearby and bathed in the river.
“The authorities and all the locals warmly welcomed us. Demonstrations of affection were evident, with the rituals of face painting and the ritual of drinking masato. For three intense days, we admired the beauty of the Achuar people. We were pleasantly surprised to find boys and girls who played carefree, far from any stereotype of painted warriors and grim faces," the Peruvian social communication office say.
Recalling the words of Fr Bolla and his arrival in the first Achuar communities in 1961, with trips that then lasted up to fifteen days, the experience of arriving in just three days seems almost a luxury. But in a short time there was a way to reflect on the lasting impact of the life of a man whose mission changed history. The question for Salesians in Peru is clear: are we willing to be part of this change?
Even today, starting from Kuyuntsa, the work of the Servant of God Fr Bolla is manifested not only in memory, but also in the tangible transformation of lives and communities.
Another look at Fr Yánkuam[]
Source: ANS
(ANS – 19 July 2023, Lima) – The work done by Salesian missionary and Servant of God Fr Luis (Luigi) Bolla among the indigenous Achuar is a legacy that continues today. His example of dedication, love and respect for indigenous peoples is an invitation to look beyond cultural differences and to find what unites all human beings. He was a true witness of the Gospel and an exceptional missionary, who dedicated his life to serving others.
In a world full of noise and distractions, it is necessary to stop and contemplate the luminous figures of those who have dedicated their lives to the service of others. The Servant of God Fr Bolla – who took the indigenous name of “Yánkuam” – was one of these, a man of great human qualities and Christian commitment who dedicated his life to the Achuar, “one of the noblest peoples.”
What did Don “Yánkuam” mean when he said that they were one of the noblest peoples? In all his writings he speaks of three adjectives: a distinct, honourable and generous culture. In one of his chronicles, referring to some young people, he writes: “they were magnificent young people, sincere, generous, hardworking at best.” The life of a missionary in the jungle can be extremely difficult, but for Fr Bolla this was precisely his vocation. Despite his weaknesses and frailties, he relied on the strength of the Lord Jesus to complete his work. Although the task of a missionary is not easy and the Achuar were a complex people.
Fr Bolla was unique and his total integration into the life of the Achuar was often viewed with scepticism by the mestizo community. However, his dedication and availability to his people kept him steadfast in his place for 60 years. Not only did he devote himself to teaching the Word of God, but he was also concerned with understanding and appreciating the values and culture of indigenous peoples. For him, the values of indigenous peoples were a heritage of humanity, which deserved to be recognised and respected.
Did you know that the Servant of God... ?
- heard the voice of God at the age of 12.
- left as a missionary at 21.
- was given the name Yánkuam', which means “star of twilight” by the Achuar.
- Was first received by Bishop Miguel Irizar in Peru.
- lived alone in the jungle for 17 years.
- promoted the establishment of the Uwijint Institute in 1991.
- was accompanied in the mission from 1996 by Juan Juárez who became a lay missionary.
- was first visited by Bro. Christian Castillejo and Fr Vicente Santilli, SDB.
- founded the secondary school at Kuyuntsa In 2007.
- and that in 2001, the then Provincial of Peru, Fr Santo Dal Ben, created a new community.
Fr Jesús Jurado, SDB
Fr Bolla's documentary collection is a candidate for becoming a national cultural heritage[]
Source: ANS
(ANS – Lima) – In recent days the Salesians in Peru received a visit from a delegation from the General Archives of the Nation of Peru, the governing body of the archives of the country, sent to examine the extraordinary documentary collection of the Servant of God Fr Luis (Luigi) Bolla, an Italian Salesian, missionary among the indigenous Shuar and Achuar of Ecuador and Peru (1932-2013). His work is a candidate to be recognised as a Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
Officials admired the ethnographic and pastoral work of the famous Salesian and congratulated the professional care with which it has been preserved. Fr Jesús Jurado, Vice-Postulator for Fr Bolla's Cause of Beatification, David Franco, Historian of the Congregation and Director of the Historical Archives and the Provincial Archivist Diego Aguado were present at the meeting with the delegation from the General Archives.
Fr Bolla's documentary collection contains his original diaries, books of Spiritual Exercises, letters, manuscripts, book drafts, almost a thousand photographs and various documents of this great Salesian missionary, whose Cause is still ongoing.
Referencias[]
- Luis Bolla, Siervo de Dios - Website dedicated to Blessed Yánkuam’ in Spanish.