2012-03-22 14:33:51

Papal visit: Portrait of Mexico and Mexicans


Pope Benedict arrives in Mexico on Friday for a 2-day pastoral visit that coincides with the 200th anniversary of Mexico’s independence and that of many other Latin American nations. The Pope will be spending just under 2 days in and around the central Mexican city of Leon which is the nation’s 4th largest city. But what is the political and social reality of Mexico and what are the expectations of its people concerning this papal visit? Originally from the U.S., Marianist Brother Lorenzo McBride has spent more than 20 years working in Mexico and tells us more about his adopted country.

He says the Mexican people are extremely hospitable and have a deep Marian devotion. Speaking of the challenges facing the country, he highlights the high levels of violence spawned by the feuds between the drug trafficking gangs and notes that "poverty is the cause" of these "drug wars." Brother McBride says he believes the Church "is not responding clearly enough and strongly enough" against this violence.

Speaking about the upcoming visit by Pope Benedict, McBride says that Mexico "is a more divided country" than it was at the time of the last papal visit but predicts the Pope will be given a "warm and enthusiastic" welcome. Mexico right now, he says "is in crisis" but "I think the Pope will offer hope" to its people through Jesus Christ and Mary.

Listen to the full interview with Brother Lorenzo McBridge done by the General Secretary of the Society of Mary, Brother Michael McAward, introduced by Susy Hodges: RealAudioMP3








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