Cardinal Brenes: May God help us ‘to find paths of concord and fraternity’
The archbishop of Managua, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, also prepared a message “of encouragement, of hope,” which was read at the end of the Mass that he celebrated in Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral the morning of Dec. 31.
“To the families and communities that at this moment feel the absence of their priests or are experiencing other kinds of hardships, I want to express my closeness,” said the Nicaraguan cardinal, adding that “now is the time to seek together in prayer the consolation of God and our strength in ecclesial unity.”
“Let us ask the good God for the grace of wisdom and that our words and actions may bear witness to that patience that obtains everything and that the light of Jesus may help us all to find paths of concord and fraternity. With Mary, our mother, at the foot of the cross, may the Lord console us and show us his mercy,” the cardinal prayed.
“United in prayer, let the words of the apostle Peter resonate in every heart: ‘May your faith and your hope be in God,’” Brenes concluded.
Pope Francis expresses deep concern for Nicaragua
After concluding the Angelus on New Year’s Day, Pope Francis expressed his “deep concern” about “what is happening in Nicaragua, where bishops and priests have been deprived of their freedom.”
The Holy Father expressed his closeness to the priests and their families and his desire that “the path of dialogue be always sought to overcome difficulties.”
“Let us pray for Nicaragua today,” the pope concluded.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Graduated in Communication Sciences from the Universidad Privada del Norte in Trujillo, Peru. I have been part of the ACI Prensa team for more than 10 years. I have covered Pope Francis' trips to Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. I covered the beatification ceremony of today's Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero in San Salvador, El Salvador, in 2015. Special envoy for investigation in Honduras in 2016. Head of the ACI Prensa Office in Mexico since 2018.