The Day's Events
- 10:00 - Holy Mass at Parque del Bicentenario (Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI)
- Angelus -Expo Bicentenario Park, León
- 18:00 - Celebration of Vespers with the Bishops of Mexico and Latin America in the Cathedral of Our Most Holy Mother of Light
- Address by His Eminence Card. Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, during the dinner offered in honour of the Bishops of Mexico and Latin America (Courtyard of the Cathedral of León, 25 March 2012)
- Address improvised by the Holy Father on Sunday Evening in front of Miraflores College (March 25, 2012)
Coverage
- The Holy Father in Mexico: Friday and Saturday: Pope Benedict XVI's visit is met with enthusiasm -- and attacks, by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman. (Catholic World Report 3/25/12):
Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Mexico Friday to an enthusiastic welcome from crowds of Catholic faithful and government officials, evoking memories of Pope John Paul II's many successful trips to the world's largest Spanish-speaking country. However, the pontiff's journey is also becoming the occasion of a carefully-planned attack by a victim of the late Fr. Marcial Maciel, who accuses Benedict, John Paul, and other high officials of the Church of failing to respond adequately to the accusations against the sexually-abusive priest.
- Pope greets Mexicans affected by notorious crimes, by David Agren. (Catholic News Service 3/25/12):
Pope Benedict XVI greeted Mexicans who lost loved ones in some of the country's most notorious crimes, events that horrified Mexico and generated international headlines.
They were among people the pope greeted privately March 24 following his public appearance in the city of Guanajuato. No details were provided, although the office of President Felipe Calderon issued a list of the eight attendees and crimes that affected them.
- Benedict XVI attacks bishops conniving with drug lords and paedophile Maciel, by Giacomo Galeazzi. The majestic Cathedral of Our Holy Mother of the Light, in the Mexican city of León, hosts a sort of ‘Latin American conclave’ of South American bishops. (La Stampa "The Vatican Insider" 3/26/12).
- The Meaning of the Papal Mass in Mexico, by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman. (Catholic World Report 3/27/12). Sunday’s Mass in Silao was an expression of liturgical reform and a message of hope to millions of Mexican faithful.
- Trust in God to help change society, pope says in Mexico's heartland, by Francis X Rocca. (Catholic News Service 3/25/12). Celebrating Mass in the Catholic heartland of Mexico, Pope Benedict XVI told a nation and a continent suffering from poverty, corruption and violence, to trust in God and the intercession of Mary to help them bring about a "more just and fraternal society."
- Pope Benedict XVI Urges Mexico to Keep Faith Despite Drug Violence, Immigration (Fox News Latino 3/25/12):
Pope Benedict XVI urged Mexicans to hold strong to the Catholic faith -- even amidst drug violence, poverty and the pains caused by mass immigration to the north -- at a Sunday Mass under the blazing sun.
Many in the crowd said they were gratified by Benedict's recognition of their country's problems and said they felt reinvigorated in what they described as a daily struggle against criminality, corruption and economic hardship.
Benedict delivered the message to an estimated 350,000 people in the shadow of the Christ the King monument, one of the most important symbols of Mexican Christianity, which recalls the 1920s Roman Catholic uprising against the anti-clerical laws that forbade public worship services such as the one Benedict celebrated.
- Pope's unscheduled meeting with Mexican drug war victims (La Stampa "The Vatican Insider" 3/25/12):
It was an unexpected meeting that was not in the Pope's official schedule but it will be remembered as one of the most significant moments of Benedict XVI's trip to Mexico. On the occasion of their meeting in Guanajuato, Mexican President Felipe Calderon arranged for the Pope to meet a group of eight family members of victims of organised crime. The Pope was thus able to express his support in the struggle against the main plague that is afflicting Mexico: the drug wars that are causing so much bloodshed (50 thousand deaths over the last five years).
The attention given to this issue was highlighted by Ratzinger and Calderon's joint call, together with two Holy See and Mexican government delegations - gathered in Guanajuato – for a swift conclusion of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Both parties wished to speed along the proceedure because “the proliferation [of small arms and light weapons] is favouring illegal activities in organised crime. The treaty is also aimed at responsibly regulating the trade of arms “in order to prevent their possession by criminal groups.”
The Pope's meeting with family members of drug war victims was intense and moving. Each one of them had a story to tell. Family members included ... [Read More]
- In Mexico, pope says social change will come with revival of faith, by Francis X Rocca. (Catholic News Service 3/26/12):
Visiting Latin America for the second time in his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI offered a message of hope for social progress rooted in a revival of Catholic faith.
The overriding message of the pope's public statements during his three days in Mexico, March 23-26, was that this troubled country, and the region in general, cannot solve their problems -- which include poverty, inequality, corruption and violence -- by following the prescriptions of secular ideologies.
Instead, the pope said, peace and justice in this world require a divinely inspired change in the human heart.
- Pope bids warm farewell to Mexico, heads to Cuba, by David Agren (Catholic News Service 3/26/12). Pope Benedict XVI bade Mexico a warm "adios," emphasizing he meant, "Remain with God," concluding a trip marked by outpourings of faith and affection from people in the world's second-most populous Catholic country.
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