Argentine bishops declare support
for Pope Francis
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| Bishop of San Isidro and president of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina, Monsignor Oscar Vicente Ojea (Getty Images) |
'We ask the Holy Spirit to
fill him with wisdom and strength'
Argentine bishops have joined
those from Spain and Peru in voicing their support for Pope Francis, following
Archbishop Viganò’s claims that the Vatican knew about abuse allegations
involving Archbishop McCarrick.
The Argentine bishops’
conference (CEA) said their
statement, published on August 30 on the Argentine bishops’ news site,
AICA, was in response to “ruthless” attacks against the pontiff.
“We share your pains and hopes,”
the letter said, explaining that it was written to express “fraternal and
filial” closeness to the Pope.
“We know what you can say with
St. Paul: ‘That is why I endure this test. But I am not ashamed, because I know
in whom I have placed my trust, and I am convinced that he is able to preserve
until that Day the good that he has entrusted to me’ (2 Tim 1:12).”
The letter was signed by
Monsignor Oscar Vicente Ojea, bishop of San Isidro and CEA president, and
Monsignor Carlos Humberto Malfa, bishop of Chascomús and secretary general.
“Today, through the intercession
of Santa Rosa de Lima, patroness of Latin America, and united in trusting
prayer, we ask the Holy Spirit to fill him with wisdom and strength so that, as
Peter’s successor, he continues to confirm us in the faith of the Church”, the
letter said.
Spain’s episcopal conference
issued a statement of its own on August 23, in addition to publishing part of a
letter it said was sent to the Pope, saying “Holy Father, you are not alone”.
“We ask the Lord to continue
supporting you in the daily struggles,” wrote Cardinal Ricardo Blazquez of
Valladolid, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, on behalf of the
country’s bishops.
Cardinal Blazquez said part of
announcing the Gospel also means denouncing, with courage, of what God disapproves.
He said it was important to ask with humility for forgiveness of sins by
members of the Church, both clergy and the laity.
Peru’s bishops, in a letter
dated August 29, said that “in the face of attempts to destabilise the church,”
they expressed support for the courageous and firm manner the Pope has shown in
navigating “Christ’s boat”, meaning the Church.
Jesus supports the rock on which
he built his Church, the letter said.
“We are sure that the Risen
Christ … the church will continue to propel us forward so that without fear and
full of hope, we will continue to work with greater energy at the service of
the people of God,” it said.
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