The Catholic Church in Honduras celebrates the reopening of the Apostolic Nunciature

Mons. Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State, presided on July 12 over the reopening ceremony of the Apostolic Nunciature in Honduras, a historic building inaugurated in 1951 and which has been completely restored.

“The reopening of this Apostolic Nunciature demonstrates the solid bilateral relations that have existed for years between the Republic of Honduras and the Holy See. These are based on the priority interest of the Church, to be – as Pope Francis stated – ‘an attentive and sensitive observer of the problems that affect humanity, with the sincere and humble desire to put itself at the service of the good of every human being.’ , and its development in an integral and global way,” the prelate noted on Friday, during the reopening.

From July 11 to 13, the Vatican authority carried out various activities in Honduras, including meetings with President Xiomara Castro, Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina García and the Episcopal Conference.

According to Vatican Newsthe reopening of the Nunciature in Tegucigalpa, the country’s capital, is of great importance, since it is a historic building that needed to be restored, modernized and expanded after 73 years.

“We affectionately call this See the home of the Pope in Honduras, because the work of the Apostolic Nuncio is also to take care of the relationship of the local Church with the Holy Father and the Holy See. In this way, the Apostolic Nuncio embodies the concern of the successor of Peter and of the universal Church, for this fraction of the People of God that is pilgrim in Honduras, as a sign of communion of all its members with the Mystical Body of Christ,” said Bishop Peña.

The construction of the “Pope’s house in Honduras” began in 1948, according to the Catholic portal Suyapa Media. In 1951, the neoclassical style building was inaugurated, built with local materials such as pink stone, characteristic of the first half of the 20th century. In 1983, Pope Saint John Paul II greeted and blessed the faithful from the central balcony during his brief visit to the Central American nation.

At another time, Bishop Peña highlighted the diplomatic work of the papal representatives in this land, but also their pastoral work and the love transmitted to their people.

“How can we not remember among them the excellent example of Mons. Federico Lunardi, who would become one of the most illustrious historians of Honduras, and so many other illustrious prelates who loved and served here in Honduras,” he commented.

Finally, Bishop Peña expressed his gratitude to the Apostolic Nuncio, Bishop Gábor Pintér, to the other ecclesial authorities and “in particular to all those who have made the completion of this work possible with so much effort and dedication.”