“We cried and we need solace”

Marian Navarroone of the young women who did the activity, couldn’t keep her voice from breaking when she started talking about Fernandez Torres.

“We wept and we need consolation. Thank you Holy Spirit, thank you that in pain and suffering we receive consolation, a united Church. We ask you our Lord, Monsignor Daniel, to give him the strength, the strength he needs,” Navarro said.

The leaders of the group – which met in front of the historic chapel – insisted that this was not a protest against the pontiff and that although they hoped the Pope would reverse his decision, they would respect the decision if they did not. “If it is your holy will that we can take it back, and if not, then we understand the Lord,” cried the young woman, as a guitar could be heard in the background.

Emmanuel Montañez ColazoFor his part, he reiterated that the Pope is the “authority” of the Catholic Church and they recognize him as such and will continue to recognize him. “This is beyond a demonstration, what we want is a moment of union,” he said, noting that the pontiff marked the lives of many young people.

He admitted that the Archdiocese of Arecibo was going through a moment of suffering, because the dismissal of Fernández Torres was “something unexpected”. He insisted that the activism was not intended to “promote” Fernandez-Torres’ return to power.

Joanna OrtizFernandez, who is part of the “Luz de María” choir for the parish of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Arecibo, described Fernández Torres as a “special person”. “What you will see here is the fruit of what he planted, in other words, by the grace of God. You will see young people from other denominations, because here, we encourage unity, which was what he most promoted,” he said.

Although he stated that they were in “mourning”, Ortiz maintained that his message was not against the Church. “We lost our father…but we are generally happy because this has led to our unity as a church,” he said.

During the activity, a group of people – pre-authorized by the organizers – collected signatures from among those present with the intent that the Holy See in Rome would hear the voice of the “wounded and the angry,” he said. Jorge Luis Perez Perez, Faith, Life and Society Commission of the Diocese of Arecibo. “We understand that what happened inside our church was unfair,” Peres said.

He explained that the resolve on Fernandez Torres was the result of “bad information” sent by other Puerto Rican bishops. “He fought for the morals of our country,” Perez added, noting that the aim of the initiative was to ensure “the return of the bishop always of our Catholic Church, the Diocese of Arecibo.”