In 1984, the Vatican issued instructions condemning certain aspects of Liberation Theology, a movement that sought to address social injustices through a Christian lens. While the Vatican's critique aimed to reaffirm traditional church teachings, the movement continued to grow in Latin America, advocating for the rights of the poor and marginalized. This tension between ecclesiastical authority and grassroots activism highlighted the complexities of faith in addressing socio-political issues.

The growth of Liberation Theology in the 1980s inspired a wave of prophetic poetry that addressed issues of poverty and social justice, particularly in the Global South. Poets such as Pablo Neruda and Adrienne Rich drew on these themes to advocate for the marginalized, weaving their activism into the fabric of their verse.