Pope John Paul II 1983 visit to Nicaragua
Encyclopedia
In March 1983 Pope John Paul II
made a pastoral visit to Nicaragua
. The visit took place amidst the ongoing Contra
war. This was a period of extreme polarization between the Nicaraguan Catholic
hierarchy and popular sectors of the Nicaraguan Church and heightened tensions between the hierarchy and Sandinista state.
Both the Nicaraguan Catholic Church and the Sandinista government eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Pope. The hierarchy believed that the Pope would give moral legitimacy to their efforts to combat the "godless communism
" of the Sandinista government. On the other hand, the government hoped that the Pope would offer support for the peace process by acting as a mediator and by formally voicing his opposition toward American aid to the contras. Consequently, the Sandinistas made a tremendous effort to encourage Nicaraguans to attend the two papal masses that were held in León
and Managua
. The day of the Pope's visit was declared a national holiday and citizens were offered free transportation to the masses.
Rather than helping to alleviate the hierarchy-state tensions, the Pope's visit exacerbated them even further. The Pope stressed the importance of Church unity as the best way to prevent Nicaragua from being corrupted by "godless communism". He spoke out against the growing division within the Church between the "popular church" and the institutional hierarchical Church. He also advocated the authority of the Bishops, and the importance of religious education
. The Pope affirmed the Vatican's support for the conservative Archbishop Miguel Obando y Bravo
and spoke out against the five Nicaraguan priests who held government positions.
The Pope's visit convinced the vast majority of Nicaraguan people that the Vatican was not in tune with their problem. For instance, the day before the Pope's visit to Managua a funeral service was held to commemorate the lives of seventeen Sandinista supporters who were killed by the Contras in the same plaza where the Pope's mass took place. The Pope completely ignored the incident and did not offer any words of condolence for the mothers of the fallen men.
The Pope's visit was a significant event in the revolutionary struggle of the Nicaraguan nation. It deepened tensions between the Sandinistas and the many Nicaraguan Catholics who supported the Sandinistas. The controversial visit was also used by the contras as a form of propaganda to give their organization moral legitimacy.
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
made a pastoral visit to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. The visit took place amidst the ongoing Contra
Contras
The contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua's FSLN Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle's dictatorship...
war. This was a period of extreme polarization between the Nicaraguan Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
hierarchy and popular sectors of the Nicaraguan Church and heightened tensions between the hierarchy and Sandinista state.
Both the Nicaraguan Catholic Church and the Sandinista government eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Pope. The hierarchy believed that the Pope would give moral legitimacy to their efforts to combat the "godless communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
" of the Sandinista government. On the other hand, the government hoped that the Pope would offer support for the peace process by acting as a mediator and by formally voicing his opposition toward American aid to the contras. Consequently, the Sandinistas made a tremendous effort to encourage Nicaraguans to attend the two papal masses that were held in León
León, Nicaragua
León is a department in northwestern Nicaragua . It is also the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
and Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
. The day of the Pope's visit was declared a national holiday and citizens were offered free transportation to the masses.
Rather than helping to alleviate the hierarchy-state tensions, the Pope's visit exacerbated them even further. The Pope stressed the importance of Church unity as the best way to prevent Nicaragua from being corrupted by "godless communism". He spoke out against the growing division within the Church between the "popular church" and the institutional hierarchical Church. He also advocated the authority of the Bishops, and the importance of religious education
Religious education
In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...
. The Pope affirmed the Vatican's support for the conservative Archbishop Miguel Obando y Bravo
Miguel Obando y Bravo
Miguel Obando y Bravo is a Nicaraguan prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the Archbishop of Managua from 1985 until his resignation on 12 March 2005. On 25 May 1985, he was selected by Pope John Paul II to be cardinal in Central America...
and spoke out against the five Nicaraguan priests who held government positions.
The Pope's visit convinced the vast majority of Nicaraguan people that the Vatican was not in tune with their problem. For instance, the day before the Pope's visit to Managua a funeral service was held to commemorate the lives of seventeen Sandinista supporters who were killed by the Contras in the same plaza where the Pope's mass took place. The Pope completely ignored the incident and did not offer any words of condolence for the mothers of the fallen men.
The Pope's visit was a significant event in the revolutionary struggle of the Nicaraguan nation. It deepened tensions between the Sandinistas and the many Nicaraguan Catholics who supported the Sandinistas. The controversial visit was also used by the contras as a form of propaganda to give their organization moral legitimacy.