Newspaper Page Text
Newspaper Of The Diocese Of Savannah
Vol. 67 No. 15
Thursday, April 9, 1987
$10 Per Year
PILGRIM PROCESSION — Pilgrims carry a cross through Jerusalem along a street that Jesus might have walked on Good Friday
on his way to Calvary. (NC photo from KNA)
Torn Chile Erupts During Pope's Visit
BY AGOSTINO BONO
ANTOFAGASTA, Chile (NC) — Pope
John Paul II visited Chile to celebrate his
success as an international mediator, but
he soon found himself embroiled in deep
domestic divisions regarding the 13-year
rule of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.
Although the pope repeatedly preached
against violence as a means of change,
violence became a part of the trip, with
more than 400 people injured in clashes
between police and anti-government
demonstrators at several papal events.
The pope heard Pinochet justify his
military government actions as a defense
of the “authentic values of the Christian
West’’ against international Marxist
subversion. He prayed briefly with
Pinochet and his wife in the chapel of the
presidential palace.
During the April 1-6 trip, the pope also
met opposition political leaders, saw
numerous anti-government signs at papal
events and witnessed a bloody clash be
tween demonstrators and police at a papal
Mass.
Signs accused the government of
murder, torture, kidnapping and being a
dictatorship. Pinochet’s reign also has
been the focus of stiff criticism from the
Chilean bishops and international human
rights organizations.
The pope did not offer to mediate. In
stead, he outlined dialogue and reconcilia
tion as the means by which Christian
societies should solve their differences.
On March 31, as he flew toward South
America on his 13-day trip to the continent,
Pope John Paul characterized Chile as a
dictatorship in transition to democracy.
He also said the church was obliged to
champion human rights in that country.
During his visit, he developed two major
principles: respect for human rights and
rejection of violence as the means to socio
political change.
Both have application in Chile. The first
easily could be interpreted as implied
criticism of Pinochet. The second could be
interpreted as criticism of guerrilla
movements gaining recruits among
frustrated youths.
The pope voiced the theme of non
violence in Montevideo, Uruguay, his first
stop, March 31, and repeated it at major
stops in Chile.
He gave tacit support to non-violent op
position leaders seeking a quick return to
elected government.
Pinochet, 71, has offered a gradual plan
for return to civilian government that
could keep him in office until 1997.
On April 1, his first day in Chile, Pope
John Paul listened as Pinochet described
his military government as a bulwark of
Western Christianity against a tide of
Marxism.
The next day, the pope told Santiago
slumdwellers that “active participation in
public life” — including the “election of
public officials” — is part of a Christian
political society. Residents of the poor
neighborhoods had presented the pope
with their grievances against the govern-
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Two Chrism Masses
There will be two Chrism Masses in the Savannah Diocese next week.
Bishop Raymond W. Lessard will celebrate a Chrism Mass on Tuesday, April
14, at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Warner Robins.
The Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, is
scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Holy Week At Cathedral
Holy Week services at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, are as
follows:
Thursday, April 16: Holy Thursday. Bishop Lessard will be the celebrant at the
Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17: Good Friday. The Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord will be
celebrated at noon. Stations of the Cross at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 18: Easter Vigil, 8:00 p.m., with the blessing of the new fire,
lighting of the paschal candle, and reception of new members into the Church.
Bishop Lessard will be the principal celebrant.
Sunday, April 19: Easter Sunday Masses at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a m. and 11:30 a.m.