Nicaraguan Cardinal Makes Plea for the Poor

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, JAN. 15, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo opened President Daniel Ortega's inaugural ceremony with a prayer calling for solidarity.

The retired archbishop of Managua made his prayer last Wednesday, saying: "Human rights are violated not only by terrorism, repression and murders, but also by the existence of conditions of extreme poverty and unjust economic structures that cause great inequalities."

Almost 80% of Nicaragua's 5.5 million inhabitants survive on less than $2 a day.

Quoting Pope Paul VI, the cardinal pointed out that "development is the new name of peace."

Cardinal Obando Bravo highlighted that there is no solidarity without reconciliation. This commitment, he stressed, stems from being "children of God," and he urged his listeners to confront the individualist culture spread by the media.

"Peace is our task," he stressed. "It calls for our determined action in solidarity. However it is, inseparably and above all, a gift of God and calls for our prayer."

The cardinal invoked the action of the Holy Spirit on the new government.

Fourteen heads of state and government and 61 delegations from all over the world attended the ceremony.