Bishop apologizes for chants against Milei’s policies at Mass in Buenos Aires

Bishop Gustavo Carrara, Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina), “humbly apologized” for the political chants against the government of President Javier Milei, performed near the end of the Mass he presided at in the capital’s church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. in the Constitución neighborhood, on Friday, June 14.

The prelate stressed, in a statement released the same Friday, that the interruption with chants of “the Homeland is not for sale,” which were also chanted and applauded by at least one priest, “occurred at the end of the Mass, and as a celebrant Mainly, I assume responsibility, and I humbly apologize to anyone who may feel offended.”

In a video that has circulated on social networks and messaging services such as WhatsApp, the parishioner can be seen repeating the song, raising their arms, both from the pews and alongside the celebrating priests. In the recording, Bishop Carrara is seen silent, with his hands on the altar until, after a while, he interrupts saying: “let us pray.”

Mons. Carrara explained in the statement that on Friday, June 14, “at noon we celebrated Mass for Father Mauricio Silva, little brother of the Gospel, who while working as a sweeper, on June 14, 1977, was arrested and disappeared.”

“At the same time, today marks Sweeper’s Day, which is why many workers participated in the Eucharist,” he noted.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires said that at the Mass “the vocation of Father Mauricio to shout the Gospel with his life was remembered. The way: friendship with the poor, being just another worker.”

“That was the tone of the testimonies and the homily,” said the prelate, who added: “Before the final blessing, I was surprised by a woman who began to sing ‘the country is not for sale’, many of those present at the temple they continued the chant for a minute. I interrupted, said the prayer and gave the final blessing and greeting.”

The Argentine bishop added: “I understand that some simple faithful could be confused, or even upset by this situation, which can be interpreted as partisan politicization of the celebration of the Eucharist, which is a sacrament of unity. Now, celebrating the Eucharist is celebrating Love, and it is necessary that this love goes beyond the temple, also in political action.”

This new incident during the celebration of Mass occurs less than a week after, also in a parish in the Argentine capital, The Passionist priest Carlos Saracini will lead the same chant of the motto “the Homeland is not for sale.”, for which he interrupted the celebration of the Eucharist. Regarding this case, the Archbishopric of Buenos Aires told ACI Prensa that it will not issue any statement.