Cardinal Cipriani calls for peace, tolerance in Peru

Lima, Peru, Jun 14, 2011 / 11:49 am

Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Lima reminded Catholics, “Peru is one family, one sentiment, one geography, one tradition, one way of thinking,” in which unity, peace and tolerance should reign.

“For this reason I pray that the Lord will enlighten all of us so that we learn how to live as brothers and sisters, respecting, helping and loving each other, making this a country where the family, young people, children, the unborn and the elderly find peace through that encounter with God,” the cardinal said during the celebration of Pentecost on June 12.

Cardinal Cipriani said forgiveness, tolerance, truth and justice “are values that have their origin in God.” He invited Catholics to practice daily prayer by invoking “the gift of piety from the Holy Spirit.”

“That impulse that we express in prayer is an interior desire we manifest when we are sick or have a problem. But it should feel like breathing, like raising our hearts to God to obtain his help, forgiveness and comfort, and that prayer requires trust in Jesus,” the cardinal said.

Democracy with values

Previously, during his radio program Dialogue of Faith, Cardinal Cipriani congratulated President-elect Ollanta Humala and exhorted the new government “to more clearly promote honesty” and “to seek the common good. We need to seek the good of persons because they deserve it.”

“The respect for the truth needs to be established in the heart of the democratic system. Truth must be rescued as something necessary for consolidating democracy in our country,” Cardinal Cipriani said.

The cardinal added that the recent electoral process was “especially convulsive, but I think a mature country like Peru should resume its usual rhythm of work and effort, as the country is forged through the daily effort of each Peruvian.”
 
He concluded by reiterating his defense of the unborn, as “the value of life is above political differences. The value of marriage is not at risk, it is an institution of natural right between one man and one woman. The same goes for the family and the education of children,” he said.

“I understand there are people who think differently, but when I talk about the Catholic Church’s understanding of value-based democracy, I am referring to this,” he concluded.