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Lima (Agenzia Fides) - "As a Church, we reaffirm our call to build a society in which life is respected and the dignity of every person is protected, and development is accompanied by justice, honesty, and charity," said the Peruvian Bishops (CEP) in a joint statement condemning the murder of 13 workers kidnapped on April 25 in the town of Pataz, in the La Libertad region.
"We feel deep pain and dismay at these criminal acts of organized crime, which are deeply damaging to human dignity and social peace," emphasized Carlos García Camader, President of the Bishops' Conference and Bishop of Lurín, in the statement.
The victims are believed to have been murdered by criminal gangs linked to illegal mining.
The bishops not only expressed their solidarity with the victims' families and assured them of their prayers, but also strongly condemned the murders and called on the judicial authorities to speed up the investigations and ensure a fair trial.
"Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope," Bishop Camader appealed to Peruvians, quoting Pope Francis. He urged them not to give in to despair and emphasized that even in the midst of pain, it is possible to work for a more just and fraternal country. In recent months, the Peruvian government has extended the state of emergency in the capital, Lima, and the constitutional province of Callao for 30 days, starting on April 17, 2025. This is the first time since 2022. A total of 459 people were killed between January 1 and March 16, according to police, who registered 1,909 extortion charges in January alone
The Bishops' Conference reiterated its commitment to defending life and peace in the country. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 8/5/2025)
