Francis is on his way to Latin America where he will visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay: Poor countries that are struggling to better their conditions after years of military dictatorship and political and economic instability
This is the first time the Pope travels to countries where he will be able to express himself in his mother tongue; today Francis sets off for his eight-day visit to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. This long visit marks Francis’ first return to the Spanish-speaking South America he left in February 2013 to attend the Conclave. On this occasion too, the Pope has chosen to enter, not from the main door of the bigger and stronger countries but from that of the peripheries that are still in need of attention, despite the fact that they are emerging markets.
There is one thing Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay have in common: they have managed to kick-start development processes that involve indios farmers and include - as pointed out by Guzmán Carriquiry, the Secretary in charge of the Vice-Presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America – “the lower classes in a modernisation and development process”. In some way, despite the many limits and social tensions that remain unresolved, an example of how it is possible to improve the general economic situation through new participatory approaches.
In the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, Francis will come face to face with problems that are similar to those he witnessed in Buenos Aires; a big metropolis, a place where many men and women – especially indigenous people – immigrate to in search of work, fleeing poverty in rural areas. Since 2006, Ecuador has been led by a leftist president Rafael Correa, who is now carrying out his third mandate. Ten years ago, he adopted a confrontational approach to both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, founding the Alianza de la Patria Altiva y Soberana (Alliance of the Proud and Sovereign Fatherland) party. This body works toward a greater collaboration between Latin American countries. In recent days, Correa, a left-wing critic of the gender ideology, proposed the creation of an International Court of Environmental Justice by means of a binding treaty between the countries that are willing to advance the fight against climate change.
The President, who will receive Francis at Quito airport later today, has two bills (on capital gains and inheritance) in the oven. They would constitute a sort of “property tax” which should burden big property owners. In Ecuador, 2% of families still have control over more than 90% of companies. But the two laws have even frightened the middle class, which fears losing houses purchased with a lot of blood and sweat for their children. The internal opposition is making its presence felt through public demonstrations, although opponents do not intend to disturb the Latin American Pope’s visit.
In Bolivia, the Pope will meet the country’s indigenous president, Evo Morales, former leader of the Bolivian cocaleros trade union (the cocaleros are Quechua and Aymara coca growers who contest the campaign to destroy their cultivations) and founder and leader of the Movimiento al Socialismo (Movement for Socialism) party. The new Constitution of 2009 has reinforced State presence on the economy and provides for the redistribution of resources to help the country’s poorer regions. In 2010, the “Ley indígena” was promulgated, granting independence to 36 local communities of South American natives. Although the number of extremely poor people is slowly falling, there are still deep inequalities and many are excluded. Two particularly significant events will be the one taking place as part of the World Meeting of Popular Movements (the Pope received a delegation in the Vatican in October 2014, pronouncing a powerful speech) and the meeting at the Santa Cruz-Palmasola prison, where Francis is to visit a wing that houses 2800 detainees who live with their families (around 1500) in a protected village that is run by the inmates themselves, under the guidance of State security staff.
Finally, Paraguay: here, after 61 years spent between dictatorship and the long reign of the Colorado party, the left-wing former Catholic bishop, Fernando Lugo, was elected President. He was removed from office in 2012. His successor is President Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, a member of the Colorado party, a businessman and owner of the Grupo Cartes holding, formed by a dozen or so enterprises. The Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP) is present in Paraguay. The army was established in 2008 and has carried out attacks mainly in the north-eastern parts of the country. Of the three above-mentioned countries, Paraguay is the one Francis is most familiar with in terms of culture and faith.
In response to a question about the role of women in the Church, which was put to him on his way back from the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in July 2013, Francis had said: “We can’t imagine a Church without women, but women active in the Church, with the distinctive role that they play.” Francis continued, saying, “I think of an example which has nothing to do with the Church, but is an historical example: in Latin America, Paraguay. For me, the women of Paraguay are the most glorious women in Latin America.” Referring to the post-war situation in 1870, which marked the end of a terrible six-year conflict with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, Francis said: “After the war, there were eight women for every man, and these women made a rather difficult decision: the decision to bear children in order to save their country, their culture, their faith, and their language. In the Church, this is how we should think of women: taking risky decisions, yet as women.” Hence, the role of the woman and the family will be central to this trip, particularly in Paraguay.
But it should not be forgotten, that the Pope’s visit to Latin America has, above all, a religious significance: the bishop of Rome goes to confirm the brothers and sisters in the faith, in countries where Catholicism has made an important contribution to the development of an identity and where Marian worship and popular devotion are very much alive. The proclamation of the Gospel’s core messages – the joy of the Gospel is the common thread that runs through the entire visit – , a Church that shows solidarity with suffering people, an invitation to build together a future, fostering participation and solidarity, the commitment to fight against injustice and inequality. Essentially, although he Pope is only visiting three of Latin America’s countries, the significance of his trip will extend far beyond the borders of these nations: the message he brings will be a message for the whole of Latin America and the world.
