Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tegucigalpa (Agenzia Fides) - The government of Honduras has officially paid tribute to the auxiliary Bishop of San Pedro Sula (in the north of Honduras), His Exc. Mgr. Romolo Emiliani Sánchez, C.M.F., for his concrete commitment to society. The ceremony was presided by the President of Honduras, Porfirio Lobo, and was held at the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa. Lobo highlighted the work of Mgr. Emiliani, born in Panama, in the social and youth pastoral, at the Commission for Social Communication and in the struggle for the promotion and respect of human rights without any restrictions. "It is an honor for us to recognize his missionary work in favor of humanity, dignity, respect and human freedom, and for his tireless pursuit of social justice in our country" Lobo said.
The President added that the Bishop has promoted the moral and spiritual values of families in Honduras, and this effort extends to the integral development of children and young people through targeted social assistance programs. As a member of the Catholic Church, Mgr.Emiliani was also rector of the Claretian seminary in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala; superior of the religious community of San José and Panama; Interim Vicar for the religious province of Central America. He worked in the forest of Darien, in Panama East, where he was appointed apostolic Vicar, and since 4 May 2001, he has been auxiliary Bishop of San Pedro Sula. From the information Fides gathered we learn that Mgr.Emiliani has experience in the recovery of at-risk youth gangs and with alcohol problems. In San Pedro Sula he is promoting the construction of a new jail because the current one is old and overcrowded.
Mgr. Emiliani has asked President Lobo to commit himself to lift the Honduran people from poverty and inequality and to restore the moral and spiritual values the families need through policies that promote global solidarity, the common good and social justice. "My commitment is with Honduras, and until the end of my life I will continue to be committed to these people," said the Bishop during the ceremony, adding that he receives the medal from the government on behalf of the Catholic Church. At the end of the ceremony, President Lobo announced Mgr. Emiliani’s request to evangelize the police, as part of a proposed eradication of corruption among the country's security forces. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2011)
