Cardinal Luis Cabrera Herrera, Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador), said that, in the face of the social and political crisis that the country is experiencing, “we need men and women of peace, willing to tend bridges between all peoples and cultures, between poor and rich, between countryside and city.”
In his homily of the Mass held this October 5, Cardinal Cabrera Herrera recalls that “today’s Gospel presents us to the apostles begging Jesus: ‘Encourage us faith’ (Lk 17,5). The Lord replies that, with a small faith like a mustard grain, great things can be done, even move what seems impossible”.
Receive the main news of ACI Press by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social networks. Subscribe to our free channels today:
“Then, Jesus reminds us that the disciple is a humble servant, called to fulfill his mission with fidelity and trust. Faith is not magic or strength of human power, but radical confidence in God, which drives us to live as servants of the kingdom, putting our lives at the service of fraternity and peace,” says the purple.
“Today this word resonates in our national history. Ecuador lives moments in which conflict, distrust and polarization seem to grow without control. But it is not just a problem of lack of political or social dialogue; in the background, it is a problem of faith and fraternity: we do not really feel truly brothers in a single nation. We have forgotten that we are children of the same father, called to unity and respect.”
The current crisis in Ecuador
Ecuador is immersed in a deep crisis, in the midst of a national strike called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) since September 22. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa decreed the night of October 4 A state of exception in force for 60 days in ten provinces, due to what it considered a “serious internal shock.”
The trigger for the current crisis was the government’s decision to eliminate diesel subsidy, arguing that it has not benefited the poorest but has supported smuggling and illegal mining, while having a high fiscal cost.
The CONAIE for its part demand that the subsidy is restored, which the value added tax (VAT) is reduced from 15% to 12%, that social investment is increased and that an “absolute reparation” is made for the family of the indigenous leader Efraín Furez, for whose death, occurred during a demonstration and that is under investigation by the authoritiesthe Confederation holds Ecuadorian military.
If its demands were not attended, Conaie warned about an eventual mass demonstration that reaches Quito, the capital of the country.
“Peace is possible” with dialogue, justice and forgiveness
In his message, Cardinal Cabrera Herrera stressed that in Ecuador “we are a diverse and beautiful people, formed by descendant of many ethnicities and cultures: indigenous, black Ecuador ”.
“No one should feel excluded, marginalized or pointed out as an enemy for belonging to a social, cultural or political group. No one should be seen as a stranger in the common house. The country will be strong and fruitful if we all fit, if no one feels excluded, if we learn to live as a family,” he said.
The purple also stressed that “peace is not built from the imposition, but from the encounter. Dialogue is the way. But a true dialogue is born when we recognize ourselves as brothers, not as rivals.”
“If we continue to look at ourselves as adversaries, the dialogue will only be an empty procedure. But if we discover ourselves as children of the same father, then the word, gesture, listening and forgiveness become instruments of an authentic and lasting peace,” he said.
The cardinal later said that “with faith, small as a mustard grain, we can start with ancient resentment root and sow reconciliation.”
In addition, he said, “with the decision to serve, we can work for peace: the father who teaches his children to forgive, the teacher who educates in respect, the politician who seeks the common good over self -interest, the young man who organizes himself to serve his community.”
“As a church, we also do not have technical solutions, but we do offer a prophetic message: peace is possible if there is dialogue, if there is justice, if there is forgiveness!” He said.
David Ramos
Graduate in Communication Sciences by the Private University of the North in Trujillo, Peru. With more than 12 years of experience in Catholic journalism working in ACI Press, I am based in Mexico since 2018. I have covered the trips of Pope Francis to Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Panama.