Benedict XVI Attacks the Bishops Conniving with the Drug Lords and the Paedophile Maciel

By Giacomo Galeazzi
Vatican Insider
March 26, 2012

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/the-vatican/detail/articolo/13830/


The majestic Basilica Cathedral of Our Holy Mother of the Light hosts a sort of 'Latin American conclave' of South American bishops

An eco resounds in the neoclassical aisles of the Cathedral, it is the invite extended to the audience by the pope as pastor and theologian not to "give into the intimidation campaign of evil forces", because " Evil does not have the last word in history" and "God can present new grounds for a hope that does not disappoint". In the Majestic Cathedral of Leon in Mexico, which has been transformed into a sort of "Latin conclave" as all the continent's bishops have flocked together, Benedict XVI attacked the bishops who have collaborated with the drug lords and the powerful founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Maciel, who is a paedophile. During the recital of the vespers the Pope deplored "weaknesses and faults", but also sent a message of hope: " The cruelty and ignorance of men do not stop the divine plan for salvation. Evil cannot do much". This warning was directed at people within the Church but also outside, including the leaders of countries "that suffer due to poverty, corruption, domestic violence, drug trafficking, the collapse of moral values, criminality and emigration because it splits families up"

The pope called for a "fairer and more altruistic society". His right hand man Tarcision Bertone was left to explain matters further and to deliver a warning to politicians "May your work be the total commitment to represent the citizens and not a power struggle or the imposition of inflexible ideologies and radical opinions". During the evening mass the pope encouraged the Latin American Bishops. "In a patient and modest pastoral solicitude your are not alone, neither in the difficulties, nor in the successes of evangelization. We are all joined in suffering and finding comfort". Near the altar, right by the pope, stood the leader of the Latin American bishops Carlos Aguiar Retes, president of the Mexican Episcopal Conference and also president of Celam, the Conference of South American bishops.

The pope called for a " spirit of communion among priests, clerics and non clerics in order to avoid sterile disagreements, criticisms and reciprocal suspicion". The ultimate objective, especially for the initiatives taking place in the Year of the Faith is to " lead men to Christ whose grace will allow them to shed the shackles of sin that enslave them" Only this way South America will be able to progress "towards an authentic and responsible freedom".

The pope advised priests to give "non clerics, who are heavily involved in catechesis, liturgical animation, charity and social activities, increasingly personalized attention". The Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes, president of the Mexican Episcopal Conference and of Celam, explained to Vatican Radio that " We already rejoice in having the pope here, as he has given us a message of deep communion and expressed his desire to share the burden of the situation we live in". " His words have always been very deep and perfectly suited to different times and contexts, on the basis of the Word of God and the Church Magisterium. He helped and encouraged us to keep "our enthusiasm alive, so that the ecclesiastical work begun with the continental Mission will carry on in the future and will support us to solve the problems we experience".

The Blessed John Paul II, the first pope to visit Mexico, had been moved " immediately, already from his very first visit, by witnessing the way a pope, as a successor to St Peter, is loved in he country", said the head of the Mexican Church. " Even before, with former popes like Paul VI, John XXIII, Pius XII and Pius IX, when Mexico suffered great difficulties because of religious conflicts, the pope had always been a very important element in the ecclesiastical life of the country". This is why with John Paul II "there was immediately a great sense of empathy. A brilliant relationship was forged between Mexico and the man who represented the Church of Christ" This welcoming tenderness was openly expressed by the Mexican people to John Paul II and it is now once again shown to Benedict XVI as it is a feeling " linked to the figure of the pope itself, as an institution". The identity of each pope simply " feeds and strengthens the historical knowledge of the various popes who in turn have governed the Church between the XX and XXI centuries". The Mexican people feel strongly about this and we, priests, can verify such feelings in talks and meetings with the various ecclesiastical communities". The Mexican Catholic Church trusts these feelings and tackles every event with hope. In occasion of the pope's visit, practically all the American Episcopal Conferences ranging from Canada to Argentina have come together in Mexico. While the majority of Caribbean Episcopal Conferences will meet in Cuba. This way the pope's visit is a gathering that grows in time and space.