Card.Turkson: Praying for conversions and the touching of hearts in Mexico and Cuba

Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, expresses his hopes for Pope Benedict’s apostolic journey to Mexico and Cuba.

Speaking to Linda Bordoni, Cardinal Turkson says he is praying that this journey may touch the hearts and induce conversions as the Pope travels to two Latin American Countries with the same Spanish heritage, but with very different historical, political and economic developments.

He says that in both nations there are issues that are of particular interest to his Dicastery.

Mexico’s political history has seen periods of strained relations with the Church, but things have much improved.

As regards the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, generally – he says - the human rights situation has improved in Mexico, but he points to the increase of violence and drug-related crimes.

He also mentions the effect of the drug trade on the United States because of the proximity of its border. And he points to the migration between the two country and ultimately to the security and stability in the country itself.

Cardinal Turkson says that “certainly the Holy Father would have his own way of addressing these issues” through his own perspective as leader of the Universal Church

But Cardinal Turkson points out that Mexico is a profoundly Christian nation. And he speaks of his own experience of living the faith in the Latin American country.

He tells of when he participated in the Eucharistic Congress in Guadalajara. And then – he says - he went to the Eucharistic Congress in Quebec. Quebec, he says, doesn’t compare to Guadalajara: in Mexico the whole population participated. During a procession everyone was hanging devotional items and religiously decorated items outside the windows. He says the people there participate with incredible warmth.

He says that probably, like in many other Latin American countries, “the challenge is making something which is seen as traditions become a regular form of life”. It’s not enough to consider tradition as merely part of history, but people must reflect on “what does it mean to be a Christian and bear witness to a Christian way of life”.

Cardinal Turkson says that especially in the area of crime and of the war going on between drug cartels, it is his prayer that the visit o the Holy Father touches hearts and induces some kind of conversion in those areas.

As regards Cuba, Cardinal Turkson says, the situation is quite different.

At the Council he says, as soon as the Pope announced the visit, “we received some correspondence in protesting against the journey”. But – he points out – the Lord said it”I didn’t come for the righteous I came for the sinners”. The Holy Father, Cardinal Turkson says, doesn’t have to visit only the saintly places, but also those in which there problems are perceived. He says this visit for him is a joy.

Cardinal Turkson also points out that the situation in Cuba has undergone change through the years. He says it’s not the same Cuba of the Cold War of the Missile Crisis.

For example even this nation, with its meagre resources, shares what it has. And he speaks of all the medical doctors from Cuba who travel to other nations to give of their service.

Generally, Cardinal Turkson says that in many Cubans the faith is still there. “This is a positive choice the Pope has made”

And the Cardinal says that he prays that whatever message the Holy Father chooses to deliver, it will be well received.

He also hopes there may be some conversions and prays the Lord may have his own way.

listen to the interview...