The
Pope prays at the site of Fr. Luis Espinal's assassination
(VIS)
During his trip from the El Alto airport to the archbishopìs residence at La
Paz, the Pope paused to bless the place where on 21 March 1980 the Spanish
Jesuit Luis Espinal Camps, poet, journalist and filmmaker, was assassinated.
Fr. Espinal, who lived alongside the families of miners during their struggle
under the dictatorship of Luis Garcia Meza, one of the bloodiest periods in
Bolivia's history, was arrested by paramilitaries, the armed wing of power, on
21 March 1980. His body was discovered the following day on the path to
Chacaltaya. His murder caused profound shock throughout the country and his
funeral, on 24 March in La Paz, was attended by multitudes. In 2007 President
Evo Morales declared 21 March “Bolivian Cinema Day”, to commemorate the
assassination of Fr. Espinal, in homage to his struggle in favour of human
rights and democracy and to acknowledge his contribution to Bolivian
cinematography.
Upon
reaching the eighth kilometre of the Chacaltaya highway, where a number of
people were gathered, the Holy Father left the car and said: “Good afternoon,
dear sisters and brothers. I stop here to greet you and, above all, to
remember. To remember a brother of ours, the victim of those who did not want
him to fight for freedom in Bolivia. Fr. Espinal preached the Gospel, and this
Gospel troubled them, so they eliminated him. Let us spend a moment in silent
prayer, and then let us pray together”.
After
a moment's silence, the Pope added, “May the Lord receive in His glory Fr. Luis
Espinal, who preached the Gospel, the Gospel that brings us freedom, that sets
us free. Like every child of God, Jesus brought us this freedom, and he
preached this Gospel. May Jesus keep him with Him. May the Lord grant him
eternal repose and may endless light shine for him. May he rest in peace”.
“And
to all of you, dear brothers, May the Lord Almighty, the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit, bless you. And please, I ask you, do not forget to pray for
me. Thank you”.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét