AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Appeal of the Pope and the local Church during the continuing protests against the mismanagement of the pandemic and the economy

Thursday, 18 March 2021 coronavirus corruption social situation economy pope francis local churches

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Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) - "This week I have been concerned about the news from Paraguay. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Miracles of Caacupé, I ask the Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, that a path of sincere dialogue may be found to find adequate solutions to the present difficulties, and thus build together the longed-for peace. Let us remember that violence is always self-destructive. Nothing is gained through it, but much is lost, sometimes everything". It is in these terms that the Holy Father Francis launched an appeal for Paraguay during the General Audience of yesterday, Wednesday 17 March.
In fact, thousands of Paraguayans have been protesting in the streets for days. Violent clashes with police took place as protesters demanded the resignation of President Mario Abdo Benítez, accused of government mismanagement with regard to public health and the economic crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The protests began on Friday 5 March (see Fides, 9/3/2021) and continue to this day.
"The Church cannot take a position for or against the request for the dismissal of the President of the Republic. The position of the Church is to constantly invoke peace", said Mgr. Amancio Benítez, Bishop of the Diocese of Benjamín Aceval and Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (see Fides, 11/3/2021).
Two days ago the President of the Bishops' Conference of Paraguay (Cep), Mgr. Adalberto Martínez Flores, Bishop of Villarrica, underlined the appeal contained in a message released on Saturday 13 March. "The first good deed consists in following the health indications", the message reads, secondly "in the current emergency it is clear that we must all be united to do good, avoiding the worst".
The message comes at the end of a very difficult week. On the one hand there are the growing coronavirus infections (while the first wave hit Paraguay less intensely than other countries): the total toll is over 180 thousand cases and more than 3,500 victims. On the other hand, very intense protests have been going on since March 5 across the country that challenge the policies put in place by the government to deal with the pandemic and growing corruption, asking for the resignation of the Head of State. There are also strong disputes over the vaccination campaign. The President, in confirming that he wants to continue exercising his functions, has carried out a large government reshuffl. In addition, according to the latest news released by the media, the President blames the WHO for the fact that the country has not yet received the expected batch of vaccines. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 18/3/2021)