In the Diocese of Valparaíso, Bishop Jorge Vega Velasco, SVD, visited the local Carbineros police chief, General Edgar Jofré Peña, to whom he offered his accompaniment and consolation in the face of the events.
“Today the Chilean people ask for peace, and the government urgently needs to address this pain,” the prelate said.
The bishop of Chillán, Sergio Pérez de Arce, secretary general of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference, offered a Mass on April 6 in homage to Palma in which police chiefs, regional and community officials, and a large number of faithful participated.
In his homily, he acknowledged that “it is difficult to say a word to bring clarity to a moment as sad and reprehensible as the death of 1st Cpl. Daniel Palma.”
The bishop asked the faithful to not give in “to hatred and despair” in the face of the difficult days “of sadness and tension” that the country is going through.
He also called for “fighting crime firmly, decisively, improving what is necessary, putting in the resources” but avoiding hatred, aggressiveness, and “useless grudges.”
Chile is currently experiencing an upsurge in crime.
On March 12, 1st Cpl. Álex Salazar Rodríguez was run over in the town of Concepción by the driver during a traffic stop. He later died of his injuries.
2nd Sgt. Rita Olivares Raio was shot and killed March 26 in a police confrontation with armed robbers in the town of Quilpué.
According to T13 news, six police officers have been killed in the country in the last 11 months, including the three most recently.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Julieta Villar has a degree in social communication from the National University of La Matanza (Argentina). She began her professional career as an editor at the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA). She has collaborated in graphic press media and communication tasks in civil society organizations. Since October 2022, she has been part of the ACI Prensa team as a correspondent for Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay.