Pentecostalism in Latin America

Pentecostalism in Latin America refers to the Pentecostal movement in Latin America. It is the second largest religious movement in the region, with approximately 30% of the population identifying with it, including the charismatic movement within the Catholic Church and Protestant churches. Pentecostals are the fastest-growing Protestant group, exerting a stronger influence in Latin America than in any other region worldwide. Pentecostalism is not a unified movement and has never formed a single structure encompassing all believers, with various branches often competing with one another.

The Pentecostal movement first reached Chile on 12 September 1909, followed by Argentina and Brazil in 1910, Peru in 1911, Nicaragua in 1912, Mexico in 1914, and Puerto Rico and Guatemala in 1916. It later spread to other Latin American countries. Scholars disagree on the reasons for its rapid growth, citing factors such as political support from the United States, social advancement of adherents, and environmental adaptation.

Initially, Pentecostals showed little interest in social issues and declared political neutrality. As their numbers grew, so did their engagement with these matters. Latin American Pentecostalism has been studied by scholars such as Emilio Willems (1967), Christian Lalive D'Epinay (1968 and 1975), David Martin (1990 and 2002), André Corten (1995), Jean-Pierre Bastian (1997), Timothy J. Steigenga (2001), and William Mauricio Beltrán Cely (2010).