Mario Abdo Benítez governs for everyone, not just for Catholics
Should the President of the Republic go on an official mission to the investiture of the first cardinal of the Paraguayan Catholic Church? Shouldn’t it be, in any case, a visit of a private nature, without any link to your role as the highest political authority in the Republic?
All things considered, both questions should have a no answer. Like any other independent state with which Paraguay maintains diplomatic relations, the President of the Republic of Paraguay must go on an official visit to the Vatican and meet with his highest authority, the Pope. Such an act has the characteristic protocol character of this type of events that generally seek the strengthening of ties from State to State through agreements, conventions, etc. The Constitution clearly illuminates the issue: “No confession will have an official character. The relations of the State with the Catholic Church are based on independence, cooperation and autonomy”.
But on this occasion, the President of the Republic of Paraguay is going to an investiture ceremony within a religious denomination, the enthronement of the first Paraguayan cardinal, something very expensive for the devotees of Catholicism but which is outside the sphere of official obligations of the Republic President. It would have been enough to send the Vice Minister of Worship if the Government feels obliged to have face-to-face knowledge of the act.
Ah, but the President is very believer, one could argue. So, wouldn’t a private visit in the company of his wife fit in this case? Perhaps. But it happens that Mr. Mario Abdo Benítez is President of the Republic 24 hours a day. There is no pause or escape from that formal function assumed on August 15, 2018 and which will cease in just under a year.
We respect the devotion of the President of the Republic, but he has assumed office to govern on behalf of all Paraguayans.
It is already an oversight to pretend that a Paraguayan president, once installed in the official chair, maintains equidistance from the political parties and movements, including the one that brought him to power. Just stating this idea causes hilarity. It is hard enough to have to put up with this sad reality of Creole politics to now add its religious version, a kind of medieval revival with a display of incense, crowns and cardinals.
