AMERICA/PERU - Christmas message from Bishops' Conference president: “I call the country's governors to work together to guarantee citizens a worthy life and an environment of peace and serenity ”

Lima (Agenzia Fides) - “In this season of Christ I wish to send greetings of peace and brotherhood to all who share our faith and to all men and women of goodwill" Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Peru said in a Christmas message addressed to the people of God. In the message, with the title “Hope for the future and courage for the present" the Archbishop writes “Christmas is a mystery of love and at the same time a challenge to reason which ignore the reality of a life in heaven which can give meaning to our life”. In fact the Child “shows the fragility of man and the omnipotence of God”.
The President of the Bishops' Conference addresses the different sectors of Peruvian society: “all those who spread the Word of God and build up the Church in communion with the Vicar of Christ and the successors of the Apostles!”, “to the thousands of educators who strive to form a new Peruvian”; “to doctors and nurses who work untiringly to fulfil their duties”; “to the police officers who work for the security of the people”; “to soldiers who defend our national sovereignty”, not forgetting “the humble peasant who offers us our daily bread”, “builders who give a new face to our cities”; le “mothers who educate their children with love and sacrifice and support their families”.
The Archbishop greets those who have the duty to direct the destiny of the nation, urging them with the words of the Pope to do all they can to “restore hope to the people they govern”, and to continue “the fight against poverty which is the most widespread injustice which denies people opportunities to improve their condition and becomes violence and clashes”.
Archbishop Cabrejos notes signs of growth in Peru but also a concerning “cry of peoples who wish to benefit from this positive time ”. Peru's future “demands a new citizenship”, hence the urgency of education to offer young people “equal opportunities for integral quality formation based on human and moral values ”.
“At Christmas I wish to urge the governing class to work together to guarantee every citizen a worthy life in an atmosphere of peace and serenity ” Archbishop. Miguel Cabrejos concludes. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2007; righe 30, parole 443)