Social Injustices In Latin America Criticised

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 13

Social Injustices In Latin America Criticised

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BOGOTA, August 19.

Cardinal Lercaro, Pope Paul’s legate, opened the International Eucharistic Congress in Bogota with a call to aid Latin America’s underprivileged classes, N.Z.P.A.Reuter reported.

Speaking to about 400,000 massed pilgrims on a mountainringed plateau just outside the Colombian capital yesterday, Cardinal Lercaro demanded action against “individual greed and collective egoisms, the awakening of consciences against injustices and better distribution of essential good.”

Pope Paul will arrive on Thursday to attend the closing days of the week-long congress.

Thousands of armed troops and police, carrying long clubs, ringed the open-air congress site five miles outside Bogota as the Pope’s opening decree was read to the throngs of pilgrims from 33 countries. A 1000-voice choir then sang the ancient hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” (Come Holy Spirit). As drizzling rain finally stopped after sweeping down over the plateau from the surrounding mountains towering over the conference site, flags of nations attending

were hoisted to the fanfare of trumpets. The Pope's opening message called for prayers for solutions to be found to pressing social problems and inequalities in Latin America —not through violence but by observing the divine commandments.

Speaking during a Mass which followed, Cardinal Lercaro referred to “frightening and threatening inequalities" and “situations which offend human dignity.” “No-one can deny that scientific and technical progress have changed mutual relations among peoples," Cardinal Lercaro said. “But at the same time, in mysterious contrast, frightening and threatening inequalities and bloody divisions and struggles and even genocides have been generated.” He hoped that a hunger and thirst for justice would flourish and that men . would overcome the temptation of ignoring the problems of other people. He called on Latin Americans to revise their spiritual and social attitudes in the light of the gospel.

As Cardinal Lercaro preached, steel-helmeted troops with rifles at the ready ringed the congress pavilion

and altar. President Lleras Restrepo, of Colombia, sat near the Cardinal.

His plea for social justice in Latin America and elsewhere echoed Pope Paul's recent demand to relieve inequality in his encyclical on the development of the people. This has already stirred consciences in a continent where the Church has often been associated with the rich and powerful.

The Colombian .authorities are estimated to have spent SUSIO million preparing Bogota for the rally, building the congress site, constructing new roads and installing public lighting. Pope Paul’s visit to Colombia comes at a time when Latin America is facing a period of severe social and political upheaval.