Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Agenzia Fides) - The Peruvian Bishops' Conference issued a communiqué dated 8th June on the violent clashes between miners in Ica and Arequipa over land, which, according to the first official assessment, have left a total of fourteen dead and dozens injured. After these tragic events, the Peruvian bishops, led by the President, Archbishop Cabrejos Vidarte, expressed "profound closeness and solidarity with the families of the injured" and assured them that they would pray for the dead. "It is worrying," the bishops continued, "that these conflicts have not been recognized and addressed in a timely manner by the relevant state and regional authorities". Then they observe: "just as we must not allow the contamination of biodiversity and the threat to our 'Common Home' through mining that does not respect nature and the laws, neither must we allow the promotion of any form of violence, even more so if it threatens human life and dignity".
The Bishops' Conference communiqué concludes with an appeal to the prime minister's office, ministries and Congress to "act swiftly and effectively to address this issue comprehensively". "Remember that every human life is sacred," they admonish. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 10/6/2022)
