By Deborah Castellano Lubov
The Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, has traveled to Honduras for the reopening of the country’s Apostolic Nunciature, and blessed the structure when presiding over the reopening ceremony on Friday.
The Vatican Substitute arrived in the Central American country on Thursday and concludes his visit today by celebrating Mass with the nation’s Bishops at the Basilica of Suyapa.
Pope’s closeness
At the reopening ceremony, Archbishop Peña Parra conveyed the Pope’s cordial greetings and spiritual closeness, and highlighted that the Apostolic Nunciature “is a clear sign of the Holy Father’s concern and care for the Church, the people, and all the Authorities of this noble country.”
Expressing his own delight to be present for the inauguration, the Vatican Archbishop recalled the long history of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Honduras.
“Looking at your flag, we could say that these relations are born from the heart of God and His love for His People,” he said, remembering that a note in the Vatican Secretariat of State Archives confirms the start of diplomatic relations with Honduras as early as 1861.
However, he acknowledged, these relations had to be interrupted soon after, though they would be resumed at the beginning of the last century, with a Pontifical Representative, residing in Guatemala, representing several Central American countries.
Beautiful and intense years
“It was in 1933 when Honduras welcomed the first Nunciature established in its capital,” he said, marveling that “since then, there has never been a lack of a Pontifical Representative in this blessed land.”
“Beyond their diplomatic work,” Archbishop Peña Parra said, “the Pontifical Representatives have also been prelates, people who have deeply loved this land,” as he included himself among that count, recalling his having served as a counselor in this Apostolic Nunciature from 2002 to 2006.
“These were beautiful and intense years, during which I performed a gratifying diplomatic and priestly work, thanks to the welcome that the Honduran Church extended to me.”
Solid bilateral relations
With this sentiment, he said, the reopening of this Apostolic Nunciature demonstrates the solid bilateral relations that have existed for years between the Republic of Honduras and the Holy See.
These relations, he noted, are based on the Church’s primary interest “in being, as Pope Francis affirmed, an ‘attentive and sensitive observer of the problems that affect humanity, with the sincere and humble desire to serve the good of every human being,'” and “in fostering their integral and global development.”
“For the Church,” he continued, “every man and woman is a beloved child of God, and creation itself is seen as a gift that the Lord has entrusted to all humanity.”
‘The house of the Pope in Honduras’
“We affectionately refer to this place as the house of the Pope in Honduras because the role of the Apostolic Nuncio is also to nurture the relationship of the local Church with the Holy Father and the Holy See.
“In this way, the Apostolic Nuncio embodies the concern of Peter’s successor and the universal Church for this portion of God’s People who are pilgrims in Honduras, as a sign of communion among all its members with the Mystical Body of Christ.
“Thank you all very much for the time and effort dedicated to making this desire to renew the house of the Holy Father a reality,” he said as he again reassured them of the Pope’s spiritual closeness to them all. – Vatican News
