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Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What Peru's Virgen de la Puerta represents about unity and inclusion
Leo XIV, the first pope born in the United States, is also claimed by the Peruvian people whom he served for over two decades as one of their own. Then known as Robert Francis Prevost, he lived and worked in the cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo in northern Peru. In Chiclayo he served as bishop from 2015-2023. Trujillo is a few hours south of Chiclayo, where the pope lived for a decade. His ministry there is particularly exciting to me because I also lived in northern Peru, during a service year with the Marianist Family between my undergraduate experience at the University of Dayton and my first year of full-time ministry. The Marianist Family was founded in response to specific needs in postrevolutionary French society. Composed of lay people and vowed religious sisters, brothers and priests, it emphasizes devotion to Mary and a communal lifestyle as a distinctive way of living out one's Roman Catholicism. About a two-hour bus ride away from Trujillo lies the mountainous town of Otuzco, where I lived with other members of the Marianist Family – a place that would later become a significant focus of my research as a lay Marianist and Mariologist. An image of Mary – La Virgen de la Puerta – now housed in a shrine church, has been venerated and revered in the community for over 300 years. The majority of those who maintain a devotional relationship with this image, both local or from the surrounding villages, are part of the Catholic religious majority in Peru. But some other Peruvians – including non- Catholics, some members of the LGBTQ+ community, and others who are marginalized, such as former prisoners and migrants – also revere her. Many of the devotees do not live near Otuzco but maintain a spiritual relationship with La Virgen de la Puerta. The Augustinians – the religious congregation of brothers and priests that Leo XIV is a member of – settled in Otuzco in 1560. As part of the founding of the town, the Augustinian Fathers placed the town under the protection of Mary, the mother of Jesus. They acquired a Spanish image, a statue of Mary made mostly of wood, and selected Dec. 15 to celebrate her locally. This tradition has continued since 1664, about 100 years after the Augustinian Fathers settled in Otuzco. Frequently riddled by threats of pirates and other dangers, the people of Otuzco prayed fervently to this image of Mary for protection. During one particular threat to their safety, around 1670, they took this image into the streets in procession to protect their town. They placed this image of Mary above the door of the church in the center of town and called the image 'Nuestra Señora de la Puerta' – transliterated into English: 'Our Lady of the Door.' In modern times, the fiesta of La Virgen de la Puerta is lavishly celebrated in the town of Otuzco, where thousands of faithful descend upon the mountain community for the multiday fiesta patronal, a festive celebration that honors the patron saint to whom a site is dedicated or entrusted. The fiesta patronal of La Virgen de la Puerta begins annually on Dec. 14, with the principal day observed on Dec. 15, and concludes on Dec. 16. During the days of the fiesta, the road between Trujillo and Otuzco is transformed into a pilgrimage route. The purpose of the journey can vary from pilgrim to pilgrim, yet it often reflects a deeply personal act of devotion. Some pilgrims arrive from Otuzco, Trujillo and neighboring villages, while others travel long distances – in Peru or from abroad – to honor La Virgen de la Puerta. Some pilgrims journey the roughly 50 miles (over 80 kilometers) between Trujillo and Otuzco on foot. I personally made this journey with a group of fellow pilgrims, the very people I was living among and ministering with during my service year in Peru. My pilgrimage involved a backpack with basic medical supplies for the group. After an overnight walk to Otuzco in camping pants, a T-shirt, hat and sneakers, I arrived before the image of Mary with quarter-size blisters on my feet. Some pilgrims, unlike me, mark the final kilometers of their journey by advancing to the shrine through the streets on their knees. In addition to the thousands who descend on the town of Otuzco each year for the celebration, there are those who are deeply devoted to La Virgen de la Puerta but do not or cannot make the journey to the shrine. Their celebrations take place at times at a great distance from Otuzco. Among them are members of the LGBTQ+ community, who to this day remain marginalized in broader Peruvian and Catholic culture. Although members of the LGBTQ+ community reside throughout Peru, the neighborhood of Cerro El Pino in Lima has historically been the site of a festive celebration in honor of La Virgen de la Puerta, which many community members observe. Differing communities come with differing needs to La Virgen de la Puerta. The LGBTQ+ community in this particular neighborhood believes she has protected them throughout their history. During the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, when over 10% of the male population in Lima was infected by HIV, members of this community sought the protection of La Virgen de la Puerta for their physical health. Although some people died from AIDS, others continued to participate in the rituals of the fiesta to honor her protection over time, even amid their suffering. They wore special costumes, sang and performed the dances that have been part of the fiesta patronal for over 300 years. Francisco Rodríguez Torres is a Peruvian photographer who lives in the capital city, Lima, but has roots in the northern region where the image of La Virgen de la Puerta is located. He is one of those who has documented the activities of the fiesta patronal both in Otuzco and in Lima in his text La Mamita de Otuzco. He writes both about the local faithful as well as those who venerate the image from a distance. In his Spanish language text, he has documented that La Virgen de la Puerta is considered a mother by groups who find themselves on the margins of society. These groups include those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, the poor, former prisoners and migrants. They 'hope to find in her gaze a consolation,' he explains. Devotees bring their special petitions before La Virgen de la Puerta: They ask for her support in making decisions and for their everyday needs. Some even pray for miraculous healing. Echoing this sentiment of finding hope in La Virgen de la Puerta, Pope Francis, during his apostolic journey to Peru, crowned La Virgen de la Puerta and gave her the title of Mother of Mercy and Hope. In his address during a special prayer service in Trujillo on Jan. 20, 2018, Francis recounted that La Virgen de la Puerta has defended and protected all of her children throughout history. Leo, following the example of Francis, has focused on the importance of dialogue and peace. In his first message from the balcony upon being announced pope he said that members of the Catholic Church must build 'bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with its open arms, all, all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.' I believe that La Virgen de la Puerta – a source of mercy and hope for all her devotees, regardless of whether they have been historically marginalized or excluded – offers an example to the world community of the greater unity with one another that Leo XIV is seeking to prioritize. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch, University of Dayton Read more: Anti-trans measures don't just target transgender men and women – a sociologist explains how 'male' or 'female' categories miss the mark for nonbinary Americans How Lourdes became a byword for hope Viva Guadalupe! Beyond Mexico, the Indigenous Virgin Mary is a powerful symbol of love and inclusion for millions of Latinos in the US Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US vice president meets Pope Leo, an American known for past criticism of Trump
By Joshua McElwee VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen who as a cardinal criticised the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies, met at the Vatican on Monday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Roman Catholicism as an adult. A Vatican readout confirmed that Vance and Leo had met but offered no details about their discussions. A Vance spokesperson said they met one-on-one before being joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic. Vatican handout photos showed Vance and Rubio smiling as they were seated across from Leo at the pope's official desk in the Vatican's apostolic palace. Leo, the Chicago-born former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a relative unknown on the global stage, elected as the new pope on May 8. While a cardinal, he issued several disapproving posts about the administration's policies on his X account, reflecting his concern about migrants. The Vatican has not confirmed or denied that the posts were authentic. The late Pope Francis, who died on April 21, was a champion of the poor and of immigrants who frequently criticised the Trump administration. He called Trump's plan to deport millions of migrants a "disgrace" and rebuked Vance for arguing that the bible calls on Christians to prioritise love for their families and countrymen over strangers and foreigners. Vance met briefly with Francis on Easter Sunday, the day before the pontiff died. Vance and Rubio have been in Rome to lead the U.S. delegation at Leo's inaugural Mass as pope, held on Sunday among crowds of an estimated 200,000 people in St. Peter's Square. After meeting Leo, Vance met on Monday with officials at the Vatican's Secretariat of State, the Church's top diplomatic office. A Vatican readout called those talks "cordial". "There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved," it said.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
US vice president meets Pope Leo, an American known for past criticism of Trump
Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with U.S Vice President JD Vance as they meet at the Vatican, May 19, 2025. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen who as a cardinal criticised the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies, met at the Vatican on Monday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Roman Catholicism as an adult. A Vatican readout confirmed that Vance and Leo had met but offered no details about their discussions. A Vance spokesperson said they met one-on-one before being joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic. Vatican handout photos showed Vance and Rubio smiling as they were seated across from Leo at the pope's official desk in the Vatican's apostolic palace. Leo, the Chicago-born former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a relative unknown on the global stage, elected as the new pope on May 8. While a cardinal, he issued severaldisapproving postsabout the administration's policies on his X account, reflecting his concern about migrants. The Vatican has not confirmed or denied that the posts were authentic. The late Pope Francis, who died on April 21, was a champion of the poor and of immigrants who frequently criticised the Trump administration. He calledTrump's plan to deportmillions of migrants a "disgrace" and rebuked Vance for arguing that the bible calls on Christians to prioritise love for their families and countrymen over strangers and foreigners. Vance met briefly with Francis on Easter Sunday, the day before the pontiff died. Vance and Rubio have been in Rome to lead the U.S. delegation at Leo's inaugural Mass as pope, held on Sunday among crowds of an estimated 200,000 people in St. Peter's Square. After meeting Leo, Vance met on Monday with officials at the Vatican's Secretariat of State, the Church's top diplomatic office. A Vatican readout called those talks "cordial". "There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved," it said. (Reporting by Joshua McElweeEditing by Peter Graff)
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US vice president meets Pope Leo, an American known for past criticism of Trump
Pope Leo XIV meets with U.S Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican, May 19, 2025. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS Pope Leo XIV meets with U.S Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance at the Vatican, May 19, 2025. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS Pope Leo XIV meets with U.S Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican, May 19, 2025. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS Pope Leo XIV poses for a photo with U.S Vice President JD Vance as they meet at the Vatican, May 19, 2025. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with U.S Vice President JD Vance as they meet at the Vatican, May 19, 2025. Vatican Media/Simone Risoluti/Handout via REUTERS US vice president meets Pope Leo, an American known for past criticism of Trump VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen who as a cardinal criticised the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies, met at the Vatican on Monday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Roman Catholicism as an adult. A Vatican readout confirmed that Vance and Leo had met but offered no details about their discussions. A Vance spokesperson said they met one-on-one before being joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic. Vatican handout photos showed Vance and Rubio smiling as they were seated across from Leo at the pope's official desk in the Vatican's apostolic palace. Leo, the Chicago-born former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a relative unknown on the global stage, elected as the new pope on May 8. While a cardinal, he issued several disapproving posts about the administration's policies on his X account, reflecting his concern about migrants. The Vatican has not confirmed or denied that the posts were authentic. The late Pope Francis, who died on April 21, was a champion of the poor and of immigrants who frequently criticised the Trump administration. He called Trump's plan to deport millions of migrants a "disgrace" and rebuked Vance for arguing that the bible calls on Christians to prioritise love for their families and countrymen over strangers and foreigners. Vance met briefly with Francis on Easter Sunday, the day before the pontiff died. Vance and Rubio have been in Rome to lead the U.S. delegation at Leo's inaugural Mass as pope, held on Sunday among crowds of an estimated 200,000 people in St. Peter's Square. After meeting Leo, Vance met on Monday with officials at the Vatican's Secretariat of State, the Church's top diplomatic office. A Vatican readout called those talks "cordial". "There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved," it said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chaos erupts in Kerala as Syro-Malabar Church faces internal conflict ahead of Pope election
As the conclave of Catholic cardinals to elect a new pope was set to begin in Rome, ugly scenes were unfolding at a bishop's office in Kerala. Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of the Syro-Malabar Church , the largest communion of Catholics outside the Western church and a major group of Christians in India, was heckled, threatened and insulted by a group of the faithful on May 6. Pamplany was recently tasked with ending hostilities between two warring factions. The unruly incident of May 6 was the latest in a series of disruptions that often spiralled into violence, verbal abuse and toppling of altar tables. All of this has been unfolding in the context of a broader shift in the political and demographic heft of the church in Kerala, having triggered a realignment of the Christian voting bloc away from its traditional orientation. This has national implications, catalysing the rise of BJP as a third front in a state where it struggled for decades. Winning in Kerala is key to its ambition of being seen as a truly national party. Beyond political implications, the scuffle, scrimmage and skirmishes are reducing the Church's appeal to a younger generation, throwing into doubt the long-term future of one of Kerala's, and India's, most economically advantaged minorities. The face-off St Mary's Basilica in Kochi is a major spiritual centre of the Syro-Malabar Church. For the past 900 days, the Basilica, believed to have been constructed in 1112, has not seen Holy Mass, the most important prayer ritual for Catholics, being performed. Instead, it witnessed fights and police action. So, what is the mess all about? The Syro-Malabar Church, which claims to have 5 million followers, is the largest in India. Among autonomous congregations under Roman Catholicism—those outside the direct rule of the pope but owe allegiance to him—it is the largest. Members of this Church take pride in its apostolic origins. They believe St Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, landed on the Kerala coast and baptised their forefathers in the first century AD. This community, known as Nasranis or St Thomas Christians, pre-existed European colonialism, which fuelled evangelisation in South Asia. A large fraction of them came into the Catholic fold in the 17th century under the Portuguese influence and came to be known as the Syro-Malabar Church. The present crisis stems from differing views on how Mass is celebrated. As an autonomous church within Roman Catholicism, the Syro-Malabar Church's council of bishops or synod has the power to decide on the liturgy—the rituals that make up worship. In 2021, the synod decided that the priest, during Mass, would face the altar throughout barring the introductory prayer, Bible reading and conclusion. Whether the priest should face the altar or the congregation during Mass has been a touchy topic for aeons. Given its potential to create disquiet, each diocese was given a choice on the matter, until 2021. A little liturgical history here. The Catholic mass celebration was altar-facing across the globe until the reformist second Vatican Council of 1962-65, which changed it, encouraging increased participation of people and allowing for vernacular languages. St Thomas Christians traditionally used Syriac—an ancient dialect of Eastern Middle Aramaic—for worship owing to their connections with the Church of East. But in 1965, in step with the global Catholic Church, the Syro-Malabar Church departed from its age-old, altar-facing Mass in Syriac and adopted a new, people-facing Malayalam liturgy. This was not agreeable to a section of the clergy, who argued this was against their distinct heritage and culture. This school of thought, called 'Chaldeanism', has remained dormant for decades. This faultline suddenly became a trigger for public acrimony and law and order problems after the August 2021 synod. The epicentre of the rebellion against the synod's decision is the ErnakulamAngamaly Archdiocese, Kerala's largest, with 655,000 members. A vast majority of the 469 priests and the faithful spread across 220 parishes vociferously protested the new diktat. The rebel priests and the faithful under the banner Archdiocese Protection Forum have since frequently clashed with prosynod priests and their supporters, each disrupting the celebration of Mass by the rival faction. 'Except one, every priest in this diocese is ideologically against the altar-facing Mass,' says Fr Augustine Vattoli, a rebel priest. Crucially, they also allege that the hasty enforcement of liturgical uniformity is a diversionary tactic. Questionable deals The allegation is that the changes were designed to take the public's attention away from a financial scandal. Fingers are pointed at Cardinal George Alencherry , their former head priest, who resigned, citing ill-health, in December 2023. Two weeks ahead of the synod decision, Kerala High Court had ordered that Cardinal Alencherry should stand trial in all cases linked to certain land deals that shook the Syro-Malabar Church in 2018. Priests and the laity had raised questions about these transactions. A panel appointed on their insistence found that the land deals resulted in a loss of `90 crore for the diocese. Alencherry had to step away from diocesan affairs and Bishop Jacob Manathodath was appointed as the administrator, who brought in KPMG for a forensic audit. The confidential KPMG report, which ET has reviewed, highlights lack of transparency, absence of due deliberations, contradictions in the cardinal's statements and process lapses in transactions. Sabu Jose, a prominent pro-Alencherry voice, dismisses any suggestion of a crisis in the Church. 'A small group of people with vested interests create trouble. Their objective was to stop the Syro-Malabar Church from becoming a patriarchate,' he says. Patriarchate is the highest status for a church within Roman Catholicism. Jose says the rebel priests who do not want to see Alencherry as a powerful bishop patriarch have unleashed a smear campaign. 'These priests did not even listen to Pope Francis who pleaded with them to align with the synod's decision on liturgy,' says Jose. Alencherry is still embroiled in at least half-a-dozen cases. After the adverse High Court verdict, he approached the Supreme Court, seeking exemption from appearing in land-related cases. His petition was dismissed. A few months later, the SC also dismissed his appeal, seeking the quashing of criminal proceedings. ET's mail to the PRO of the Syro-Malabar Church has remained unanswered at the time of going to press. Will the pope intervene? After the synod's decision and the subsequent hullabaloo, the alleged land irregularities, enquiries and court cases have seemingly faded from public memory. Earlier this year, the synod appointed Archbishop Pamplany as a mediator to resolve the liturgical dispute. On May 7, Pamplany faced the ire of a group who alleged that he was lenient towards the rebelling priests. Earlier, Pope Francis tried but could not bring harmony, having appealed to the congregation through a video message in December 2023. His successor Leo XIV began his papacy by saying, 'Peace be with you all.' Can he bring peace to the Syro-Malabar Church? He had visited Kerala many years ago as Father Robert Prevost, head of the Order of St Augustine. In many issues, including matters of liturgy, the Vatican's scope of intervention has some limitations due to the autonomous nature of the Syro-Malabar Church. However, his stature and the initial enthusiasm around the new pope could help Leo XIV stop a likely split in the SyroMalabar Church, the first in four centuries. State of the Church All of this is unfolding at a time when the broader Christian community is plagued by multiple problems. Some worries stem from new socio-economic realities. The spurt in migration to western countries and low birth rate have hit its numerical strength. About 5% of the faithful have migrated to North America, Australia and Europe. They are unlikely to return. The late demographer KC Zachariah had predicted that the community would enter zero population growth rate or negative population regime, terming it the 'Parsi Syndrome,' a reference to a similar dwindling that happened in that community in India. Then there was a sexual abuse case involving Bishop Franco Mulakkal. Although Mulakkal and the nun who accused him of rape were under the Jalandhar diocese, which is not part of the Syro-Malabar Church, they were born in this community. Five nuns staged a fortnight-long sit-in protest, demanding investigation against Mulakkal. He was jailed and later acquitted by court. He subsequently resigned. A section of the Catholic Church has also raised the spectre of 'love jihad'. This has led to the creation of a BJP-leaning group called the Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA), which led to tensions with Muslims, damaging the communal harmony that long existed in Kerala. The Church traditionally balanced their relationship with the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the CPM-led Left Front fairly well. That, too, is changing. The first Lok Sabha victory for BJP from Kerala was partly attributed to Christian support. BJP's film star candidate, Suresh Gopi, won in Thrissur, which has around 3 lakh Christian voters. George Kurian, BJP's other Malayali Union minister, happens to be a Syro-Malabar Catholic. That is a lot of moving parts for Kerala's Christians. For starters, the new pope could do well by fixing the Syro-Malabar problem.
