CATHOLICISM IN MEXICO NO LONGER SIDELINED
50,000 Attend Historic Mass in Heart of Nation
MEXICO CITY, MAY 7 (ZENIT.org).- Yesterday the Catholic Church held its
first open-air Mass in 140 years in the Zocalo, the plaza in front of
the government buildings that is the heart of Mexico City.
Until 8 years ago, the Catholic Church was not legally recognized in the
country, which had no relations with the Vatican. Cardinal Norberto
Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico, who celebrated the Mass and
carried the Blessed Sacrament in procession through the streets of the
center of the capital, said: "Our Church cannot be a silent Church."
About 50,000 people shook hands as a sign of peace in the Zocalo, which
for decades has been the scene of battles, and political and social
conflicts. Of utmost importance was the presence of Mexican President
Ernesto Zedillo. This was the first time that a Chief Executive of the
country has participated in a popular ceremony of such importance for
Catholics, with the exception of John Paul II's visits to the country,
when diplomatic protocol prevailed.
The Catholic representation was significant. Cardinal Jorge Medina
Estevez, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments, was the Papal Legate. Alongside the
Mexican Cardinals and Bishops were the Cardinals of Cuba and Puerto
Rico.
This was the culminating event of the second Eucharistic Congress in
Mexican history. The first was held in 1924, shortly before the outbreak
of brutal religious persecution in Mexico.
"Faith in Christ is an integral part of the Mexican nation. Do not let
this light of the faith be extinguished, because Mexico continues to
need it, in order to construct a more just and solidary society with
those who have nothing," Cardinal Rivera Carrera said during the
celebration.
The Church "has the word for all Mexicans, the word of freedom, justice,
forgiveness, peace and progress; her kingdom is not of this world but
she is in it to give the good news," the Mexican Cardinal added.
The homily was delivered by the Papal Legate. Cardinal Medina focused on
the decisive importance of the Eucharist for the Christian's life and
the Church's unity.
Mexico Has First Massive Outside Mass in 76
Years
May 7, 2000 7:00 am EST
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - An estimated 50,000 people crowed
Mexico City's main plaza for the nation's largest outdoor Roman Catholic
Mass in more than 70 years.
The service in Mexico City was the most visible
celebration by Catholics in Mexico since state-led persecution of the church
in the 1920's, and signaled that barriers between church and state dating to
the late 19th century were coming down.
Roughly 90 percent of Mexico's 98 million people are
Catholic.
Papal Nuncio Monsignor Leonardo Sandri and the Mexican
archbishop, Cardinal Norberto Rivera, were the main celebrants Saturday
night at the Zocalo, which is often called the heart of the nation.
Two large television screens were set up to help the crowd see the altar.
National Infored radio estimated the crowd at 50,000,
while church officials said they expected 150,000.
The event was part of a National Eucharistic conference,
last held in 1924 before relations between church and state descended into crisis.
The Catholic Church has in recent weeks been trying to
play a higher profile role in Mexican society after decades of tense
relations with the government that resulted in war in the late 1920's
called the Cristiada.
Mexico only established diplomatic relations with the
Vatican in 1992 and older Mexicans can still recall when priests were not
allowed to wear robes in public or vote, and were sometimes hunted down and
killed.
Long cautious not to be viewed as interfering in
politics, the church this week issued a statement on the July 2 presidential
election in which it called on Mexicans to vote and urged the government to
ensure the ballot was clean.
The church's tentative steps toward a more vocal role in
society did not pass without controversy.
Government officials warned it not to suggest how voters
should cast their ballots or to portray itself as a political force,
and many ordinary Mexicans also feel uneasy.
Religious historian Jean Meyer, interviewed by Mexico City
daily Reforma, said Saturday's outside Mass could be interpreted as a
sign that the "crisis" between church and state had finally
ended.
"We haven't been accustomed to holding Masses in the
Zocalo, it's something new and surprising to us," Meyer said.
"But in reality, we ought to get used to these events as they're
another chapter in our modernization."
