P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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INTENTION : |
That the nations of Latin America may walk in fidelity to the Gospel and progress in justice and peace.
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1492 was the year when the first conquerors and missionaries from Spain and Portugal arrived on the American continent. A new society, fruit of the meeting of two worlds and two cultures, began to come into being. There were good and bad decisions. There were good examples of evangelising efforts, but also innumerable abuses and injustices against the indigenous and mixed-race population, some reported incidents of genocide, as well as, in a short time, the indescribable horror of African slavery. The new society which had been founded was far from being consistent with the gospel which had arrived with the conquerors.
Different historical circumstances brought it about that between 1810 and 1811 independence movements separated the countries of Latin America from the European crown. A new historical period was opening for these regions. The independence that they won did not mean that the great social injustices or the great problems of poverty of the majority would be solved. The task of a more just society, more faithful to the gospel, was unresolved after these dates and remains unresolved today. All through these 500 years many people have proclaimed Jesus Christ. There has been quite a number of martyrs and prophets, killed or persecuted for the cause of gospel justice. Many have striven to bring society forward to conditions of greater equality and well-being for all, raising their voices to denounce abuses and outrages. In the most recent times, in the dark period of repression by military dictatorships in the last century, many were persecuted, tortured and killed. Prominent among them is Monsignor Oscar Romero, Archbishop of El Salvador, assassinated in a cowardly way in 1980.
This intention for prayer from the Holy Father arrived while these countries, this year and last year, were celebrating their 200 years of independence. The Pope's voice is added to so many who long for a society in the so-called 'Catholic continent' where all may have life in Christ, and life in abundance. The persistence of grave injustices and poverty, corruption and populism, discrimination and class-distinctions, the secularisation and consumerism that belong to the globalized world, and so on, are an attack on the fullness of life of God's sons and daughters. Following the Master, the Church wants to take on the mission of working in the service of God's Kingdom, 'that the countries of Latin America may go forward in fidelity to the Gospel and make progress in social justice and peace.'
"... throughout Latin America, the "us" of the Church is a source of identity, a fullness of truth and of charity which no ideology can replace, a summons to respect for the inalienable rights of each person and his or her integral development, a proclamation of justice and fraternity, a source of unity."
Benedict XVI, Urbi et Orbi Message,
Christmas 2009
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