Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Managua, urged the Nicaraguan people and the Catholic faithful to seek peace and avoid wars and social conflicts.
During his homily from the Managua Cathedral, Brenes quoted some phrases from the comedian (RIP) Mario Moreno “Cantinflas” who criticized religious leaders and traditional politics.
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“Cantinflas says that the world, and many times we have changed that commandment of Jesus: love one another, but today we say: arm one another.”
“And that is what we are experiencing today with those cold wars that are taking place around the world, arming oneself against others, having sophisticated weapons against one’s brother,” the Catholic leader emphasized.
Regarding the constant defamation and attacks against the Catholic Church by the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, the cardinal stated that people also have a weapon “that little by little we are sharpening, which is the tongue, that is a weapon , but Jesus does not call us to arm ourselves but to love one another».
The archbishop also exhorted to ask “the Lord to give us peace and give us the Holy Spirit (…) May the Lord help us to seek peace with our brothers.”
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Brenes concluded his speech by citing the message of Pope Francis, who celebrates the world day of social communications. “The pope has sent a message to all communicators: We must listen with the ear of the heart. Knowing how to listen, in addition to the first gesture of charity, is also the first ingredient of dialogue and good communication. Learn to listen, let others say everything.
«For my part, together with the Holy Father, I congratulate all the communication professionals of our country, whatever trend they are, as I also want to congratulate many of our young people who support us from their parishes by communicating about the person of Jesus through parish networks,” he added.
In recent weeks, the Catholic Church in Nicaragua has been attacked by the regime of Daniel Ortega, who ordered Claro’s cable company to remove the Catholic channel, the official outlet of the Episcopal conference, from its grill, and has also increased the siege against religious leaders.
For their part, the Catholic leaders have affirmed that the only way out of the crisis that Nicaragua is experiencing is a true dialogue without repression, siege, threats or conditions of any kind.
