AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Archbishop of Asunción celebrates the Chrism Mass: "In this time of pandemic we recognize the value of life"

Monday, 12 April 2021 coronavirus   bishops   healthcare  

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Asunción (Agenzia Fides) - On Saturday April 10th, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción celebrated Chrism Mass, which usually takes place during Holy Week, but due to the pandemic and restrictions in force in Paraguay, it was postponed. The Archbishop of Asuncion, Mgr. Edmundo Valenzuela, presided over the celebration with the presence of only 20 priests of the diocesan clergy, but his message was spread by the media to the entire national community.
The Archbishop commented on the difficult situation that the country is experiencing. On the one hand, everyone feels the value of life is endangered by the virus, on the other hand, it is not clear how abortion and euthanasia can be seen as a solution or even as civil rights.
"What is the value of life in this time of the pandemic?" he asked in his homily, and continued: "We will continue to defend life, from conception to natural death!". In this context, the Archbishop appealed to the authorities for quick solutions to the shortage of medicines and vaccines for the sick, which occurred in recent weeks.
Paraguay is experiencing this second wave of infections and deaths due to Covid more dramatically than the first wave in 2020. In the first days of March, protesters on the streets of the country protested against the mismanagement of the health crisis and the shortage of vaccines (see Fides, 9/3/2021).
The Paraguayan health minister Julio Borba announced yesterday according to the news portal "Ultima Hora" that the 100,000 doses of the Indian Covaxin vaccine are ready for administration after the drug was approved by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) in Mexico, the first country in the world to approve it. The doses donated by India had been received by the Paraguayan health authorities in late March and were held until their safety was ensured after the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) refused to approve them. After approval by Mexico, the vaccine was approved by the Paraguayan authorities and is to be distributed in the various regions of the country. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 12/4/2021)


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