The Archbishop of Mexico, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, called again on Mexicans this week to accept the new President, Felipe Calderon, and to work with him, because the country needs the collaboration of all.

“All Mexicans must recognize the President and work together with him.  This country’s work needs not only one man or his cabinet, no matter how good it is; it needs all Mexicans and needs the opposition.  It needs those who think differently or contrary to the plan that won,” he said in an interview quoted by the Mexican daily “La Jornada.”

At the end of Sunday Mass, the cardinal explained that “we must be consistent in respecting the person who was elected by the Mexican people.”  He said post-election scuffles are normal but he called for respect for the country’s institutions.

On September 5 the Federal Electoral Tribunal declared Felipe Calderon to be the new President-elect.

Nevertheless, this past weekend Calderon’s rival in the elections, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, declared himself the “legitimate President” before thousands of followers in the Mexican capital, refusing to accept the decision of the Tribunal.