Canonization a Sign of Pope's Solidarity with Indians, Says Cardinal

TORONTO, JULY 31, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Juan Diego's canonization shows the Pope's solidarity with the millions of Indians of the Americas, a stimulus for their Christian and human development, says a Honduran cardinal.

Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, and president of the Honduran bishops' conference, made these comments Sunday as World Youth Day was ending.

«The canonization is a good stimulus for the existence of the Indian's human development, which also leads to Christian development and holiness, as it is possible for every Christian to be a saint and Juan Diego is an example,» the cardinal told the Mexican newspaper Reforma.

Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga also emphasized that Juan Diego's canonization should not be interpreted as an endorsement of native theologies.

«All those types of currents are good in so far as they might favor plurality of thought, but they are bad if they introduce divisions,» he said, «because the Lord Jesus Christ's desire is that we be one, and everything that breaks unity and community, cannot be in keeping with theology or the will of God.»

ZENIT - The World Seen from Rome
31. juli 2002