Popes support message for Panama event

WHILE  some skeptics remain critical of Panama playing  host to the World Youth Day in 2019, Pope Francis has  given  words of encouragement to the country’s Catholic religious leaders.

“Do not be afraid and continue with the preparations,” he told Cardinal José Luis Lacunza, Panama Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa and Colón Bishop Ochogavía Manuel Barahona during an audience  at the Vatican before they returned to Panama.

Panama’s bid to host the event was presented to the Holy See with the endorsement of the Episcopal Conferences of Central America and with the strong endorsement of President  Juan Carlos Varela and the First Lady who were portrayed as “Papal groupies“  by local cartoonists  while they were in  Krakow, Poland for  the last rakow, Poland for  the last Youth Day.

Lacunza said  that they will request an opening of borders to the pilgrims to facilitate connections. That bid focused on Panama’s location as a prime spot to host the event.

“We want to involve the countries of Central America, through the government of Panama,” the cardinal said.

Ulloa stressed that the event will help to remove “the exclusion and the marginality” of youths in Central America.

“It will show them that there are opportunities,” he said.