Following Governor's Indictment, Apostolic Delegate to Puerto RICO Asks for Calm

By Liz Arelis Cruz Maisonave
Free Republic
August 25, 2014

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1994376/posts

The Catholic Church's Apostolic Delegate to Puerto Rico, [Monsignor] Josef Wesolowski, called on troubled Puerto Ricans to be calm in the wake of last week's news that the Governor faces 19 charges of alleged acts of corruption.

The Monsignor, who is Pope Benedict XVI's envoy to Puerto Rico and the [Apostolic] Nuncio to the Dominican Republic, was in Puerto Rico during the weekend to acquaint himself with the Puerto Rican Catholic Church and visited the premises of what will be the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Providence in Cupey.

"We wish for calm and serenity to follow the great paths of democracy. With serenity, the island may overcome the difficulties it may face. History is filled with difficult times, but things may always end well," [Wesolowski] stated before celebrating the great Feast of Divine Mercy, which took place yesterday at Lauro Davila Felix Arena.

This was his first visit to Puerto Rico, but the Polish-born cleric will return for the Congress on the Family, which will be held in Mayaguez on the third week of April. He was pleased with the affection he has been given in both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and pointed out that redoubling the Catholic Church's efforts to strengthen family unity is among his plans.

"I think that what's most important is the integrity of the family, helping the family feel united, for all that may be offered from spiritual and legal viewpoints. To ensure that Catholic families feel strong and supported by the Catholic Church and the Holy Father," he pointed out.

During his visit, [Wesolowski] was accompanied by [San Juan] Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves, with whom he celebrated the Divine Mercy Mass. During his homily, the Archbishop also called for calm and prudence while the processes taking place reach their conclusion. And while this goes on, that an opportunity be seen to reflect and talk as a family, and also to pray for unity in the island.

"It is a democracy which has always been characterized by democratic processes. This is not a situation for some to feel themselves the victors and others the defeated," [Gonzalez] said. "Puerto Rico has had its good and bad times. It has come out of all with decorum, unity, and dignity. This will be no exception. Rejoice always in the Lord," he added.

During the visit, Gonzalez brought Wesolowski to the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Providence, which the latter showed his enthusiasm for, and both even began to make plans to establish a spiritual bridge between Puerto Rico and Poland through their shrines.

"A national shrine may always unite a country more. A shrine is a lovely idea, not only for the Archdiocese, but for the entire nation. What's most important has been done, that being the interest of the people who really want to build this shrine. The will of the people who are going to be the living stones."

The revelations from the Christ of Mercy to Saint Faustina Kowalska in Poland, which the Apostolic Delegate is a native of, were celebrated yesterday. [Wesolowski] was ordained a priest on May 20, 1972 at the diocese of then-Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, known years later as Pope John Paul II. As with the late pope, Wesolowski is a polyglot. He is fluent in Russian, French, Italian, English, German, Polish, and Spanish.

As part of the Feast of Divine Mercy, which is celebrated on the Sunday following Easter Sunday, people who went to confession received a plenary indulgence.