Pilgrims of Hope: Psychosocial Contributions to Well-Being in an Intercultural Context

Contribuições psicossociais para o bem-estar em contexto intercultural

Abstract

This article analyzes the contributions of Social, Community Psychology, and Religion to strengthening comprehensive care in missionary contexts, especially in territories marked
by interculturality and social vulnerability. In light of the Jubilee Year 2025, whose theme is Pilgrims of Hope, the study discusses the relevance of psychosocial strategies that articulate faith, mental health, and social justice. Based on a bibliographic review and thematic analysis of five selected key texts, the study identifies challenges such as the emotional impact of the mission, intercultural tensions, identity stigmas, and psychological exhaustion of
religious agents. Based on these analyses, it is proposed to value practices such as qualified listening, training in intercultural skills, and the promotion of spirituality as a resource for resilience. It is argued that the evangelizing mission, to be truly humanizing, must integrate knowledge from Psychology with the ethical commitment to care, dialogue, and active hope, especially in peripheral contexts in Brazil and around the world.