Venezuela: Raúl Biord Castillo took office as the new Archbishop of Caracas

On Saturday, August 24, the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas took officeMons. Raúl Biord Castillo, who succeeds Cardinal Baltazar Porras, in the midst of the political and social crisis that Venezuela is going through, after the presidential elections of July 28.

At the beginning of the ceremony, held in the Caracas Cathedral, Cardinal Porras highlighted the importance of apostolic succession in the country, whose most important dioceses “have witnessed the appointment of 45 bishops, by order of the Popes.”

In front of senior officials of the Chavista regime, who occupied the top positions in the Cathedral, the cardinal – now Archbishop Emeritus – referred to the “current deterioration of ordinary life in the country” that weakens “the values ​​of truth, justice, freedom and respect for life, preventing a more peaceful and kind existence.”

“However, it is encouraging to see the desire to live together in democracy, harmony and fraternity, the fruit of the will for social friendship, as Pope Francis tells us, and also to a large extent of the evangelizing action of the many pastoral agents that make up a fabric of authenticity throughout the entire extension of our archdiocese, and of the clear citizen awareness of being protagonists of daily tasks,” he expressed.

Referring to Bishop Biord, 17th archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Porras asked him for strength of spirit to face this new challenge. Furthermore, he specified that the entire parishioner of the archdiocese receives him “with joy and hope” and entrusted his ministry to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

First words of the new Archbishop of Caracas

In the presence of the Caracas clergy, among whom Cardinal Diego Padrón and Mons. Jesús González de Zárate, president of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV), stood out, the Apostolic Letters, sent by Pope Francis, for the appointment of Mons. Biord.

Immediately afterwards, the new Archbishop of Caracas occupied his chair and took his miter and crosier, officially taking possession of his position. In his homily, Bishop Biord highlighted the need and importance of being witnesses of the truth, of the Resurrection of Jesus which, like the apostles and martyrs, can even lead “to persecution and even death.” .

“The enormous cloud of so many martyrs adorns our churches and encourages us not to give in to any power in this world and to serve the only Lord, our Almighty God,” stated the archbishop.

Being the day of Saint BartholomewBishop Biord recalled that episode of the Gospel in which the apostle asked Saint Philip, almost in a mocking tone: “Can something good come out of Nazareth? (Jn 1, 43). Reflecting, the Caracas archbishop assured:

“God knows how to recognize the humble and, out of poverty, he does great things. We too must overcome hopelessness and affirm: ‘Yes, new things can come from Nazareth and Venezuela, wonderful people, stories that change life and fill it with meaning,’” he said.

Bishop Biord thanked God and Pope Francis for his appointment and gave a historical account of the Church of Caracas, highlighting the work of his illustrious predecessors, especially the last five Caracas archbishops, all of whom were elevated to the dignity of the cardinalate.

Finally, he fervently asked God, through the intermediary of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández from Caracas, “that in this difficult hour, full of conflicts and resentments, he would grant us the grace to feel and treat each other as brothers.”

“May we all sincerely and conscientiously seek, not our personal interests, but the true good of our people and our homeland, Venezuela,” concluded Bishop Biord.