After political propaganda by characters seeking to obtain a position in the midterm elections next year in Mexicothe cardinal Philip Arizmendi He questioned whether these applicants are truly motivated by service or by other interests.
In his weekly article published in various Catholic and commercial media, the bishop emeritus of San Cristóbal de las Casas (Chiapas) assured that in the Ecclesiastical Province of Mexico, where there will be elections for a new governor in 2023, there are almost 70 candidates from the Morena party, of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
In this sense, he questioned whether all the candidates agree with the principles of said political institute, but they see in it the only possible way to succeed. “The same thing happened before with the party that they criticize now; His background attitude doesn’t change.
The race for power
But this – he said – is not the only party from which other possible candidates for the governorship of the State of Mexico have already been uncovered, “spending huge resources to appear in billboard adsin paintings of fences and in other events, anticipating the processes of their own party”.
And he questioned: “How many want to govern! Why do they do it? Do you feel very capable of solving the huge problems we have, especially insecurity and violence? What do they seek? Serve the people, spend your life for the comprehensive well-being of the community? They would be saints! Or what moves them is to obtain personal or group advantages?”
Within two years, the Mexican cardinal warned, we will elect a new president of the Republic. “How candidates are emerging! Do we perhaps have many generous characters to give their lives for their country? Some have already held important positions and imagine they have the solution to the complicated national situation. Hopefully the popular conscience matures and analyze the personality of each candidate, and do not be fooled by speeches, promises and gifts“.
It also happens in the Church
The cardinal acknowledged that this It also happens in the Churchwhere there is no lack of priests who would long to be bishops, or hold important positions in the diocese.
“They don’t know what they want! Among us, should not be the ambition of positions what moves us, but to give our lives to God and his People, because for that we consecrate ourselves”.
In this regard, he recalled the Latin phrase that has been attributed to Saint John Paul II, when it came to appointing new bishops: “Volentibus, nolumus.” Namely: those who want to be, we reject themwe do not want them, they are not the ones indicated for this ministry.
“I was never pulling strings to be a bishop; less cardinal. I was asked for this service and have tried to perform it with the spirituality of serving and give life, so that others have full life in Christ”, he explained.
Finally, Cardinal Arizmendi asked the Catholic faithful pray “that the Holy Spirit may inspire candidates for public office to aspire to holinessto earn heaven, spending their energies and abilities for the benefit of the community, and freeing them from the temptations of only yearning for power, money, fame and other passing pleasures”.