Pope: Card. Obando Bravo, 'tireless pastor' and hero of reconciliation
Francis sends a telegram for the death of the former Archbishop of Managua, defined by a law "National Priest for Peace and Reconciliation".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "A tireless pastor who, for years and with generous fidelity, dedicated his life to the service of God and the Church". Pope Francis thus defined Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo, whose death took place on June 3, in a telegram of condolence addressed to Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano, Archbishop of Managua, as well as to the cardinal's family members, to the members of the Society of Don Bosco and "to those who are part of this beloved archdiocese".
The Cardinal, Archbishop emeritus of Managua, familiarly known as a "warrior", who died at the age of 92, is linked to the suffering events of his country. Considered the hero of national reconciliation for his mediation efforts in the 1970s between the dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle and the Nicaraguan guerrillas and, later, in the 1980s, between the Sandinista government and the counterrevolutionary armed groups, only a few years ago, on 2 April 2016, exactly two months after his 90th birthday, was officially declared "National Priest for Peace and Reconciliation", with a law passed with 65 votes in favour and one vote against.
Just the day before the cardinal's death, at the Angelus the Pope had said he was united "to my brother bishops of Nicaragua in expressing sorrow for the serious violence, with dead and wounded, carried out by armed groups to repress social protests. I pray for the victims and their families. The Church is always in favour of dialogue, but this requires an active commitment to respect freedom and above all life. I pray that all violence cease and the conditions for the resumption of dialogue return as soon as possible ".
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12/02/2023 15:13
