Gabriela Mistral's poetry speaks to themes of social justice, Catholisim, and feminism. She became a continental icon when she received the first Nobel prize in Literature awarded to a Latin American (Chilean) writer. Her life's work as a writer, activist, and teacher encapsulates the struggle of the oppressed to possess power, and to take into their hands the work needed to improve everyday life within their communities.

Her poem, "Credo," speaks into being this radical strength Mistral cultivated in herself through the Catholic language of her identity.