AMERICA/HONDURAS - The Bishops: "Despite the difficulties, a new horizon is in sight"

Tegucigalpa (Agenzia Fides) - "Despite the difficulties, we see a new horizon": this is the exhortation that the Bishops of the Bishops' Conference of Honduras (CEH) address to all the People of God in a message made public at the end of their Plenary Assembly, which elected the new leadership for the 2022-2025 three-year period. Msgr. Roberto Camilleri Azzopardi, Bishop of Comayagua, is the new president of the CEH. Msgr. Darwin Andino, Bishop of Santa Rosa de Copán, was elected vice-president. Father Emigdio Duarte Figueros is the General Secretary of the CEH. "We greet you with joy and announce to you with hope that we have a new Direction, and we invite you to give thanks to God so that he continues to guide and care for his Church", write the Bishops, who recall: "as people of faith, we are called to live deeply rooted in our relationship with God and we are committed to building the present and the future of Honduras at the same time". The Bishops urge the population to look to the future with confidence, despite the current difficulties, and wish to contribute with their reflections, indicating some broad lines, "so that this new stage that the country is experiencing is not blocked by certain problems that have traditionally impeded a better path of justice and development". These chronic problems lead to a loss of hope among the Honduran population and are at the root of migration, especially among young people". In their message, the Bishops underline that "our national problems are not simply cyclical, but structural. The structures remain the same. Corruption and impunity still leave gray areas, which could thwart the legitimate expectations of the electorate, who voted for "necessary change". After recalling that "the country belongs to everyone, and not to a particular group", they denounce political revanchism, polarization and the search for personal interest, which "seriously harm authentic democracy". Only sincere social dialogue and the search for the common good can pave the way for an authentic rebuilding of Honduras and for reconciliation. This requires "clear lines of government and the participation of competent people with moral values", "new ways of doing good politics, professionalizing it and caring for the common good". The Bishops then dwell on the construction of democracy and the need to have people capable of leading, who are professional, respectful and competent. Among the problems left by the pandemic that must be overcome, the Bishops point to individualism and distrust. It is necessary to continue vaccination and prevention, while "promoting a better health system, able to offer coverage and quality care to the poor". Another historical problem is the poor quality of education, for which realistic solutions are needed, as well as a "renewal of the education system involving all the sectors concerned". Finally, the Bishops believe that it is necessary for Honduras "to remain open to the whole world, to cultural exchanges and to international cooperation". Locking oneself into an ideological trench would deprive Hondurans of the benefits that openness would bring in all areas of national life. The Bishops concluded their message by invoking the Lord and his Mother, the Virgin Mary, to inspire in Honduran society the will to "put aside everything that divides, to walk together towards a horizon of truth, of justice , love and peace". In the elections of November 28, 2021, Iris Xiomara Castro was elected president of Honduras, the first woman to hold this office. The deputies of the National Congress and the Central American Parliament, as well as the mayors were also elected during this same election. In a message after the elections (see Fides 7/12/2021), the Bishops, who had already expressed their great concern for the social, economic and political situation in the country (see Fides 15/10/2021; 27/11/2021 ), congratulated the citizens and elected officials, wishing for the reconstruction of Honduras "in development, peace, respect for life and the dignity of the person". In its statement of January 23, 2022 (see Fides 25/1/2022), the CEH renewed its call for dialogue "for the pursuit and achievement of the greatest possible and equitable good for all Hondurans and not for the interests of individuals, groups or parties". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 15/6/2022)

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