_WORLD WATCH______________________________
________________Argentina_______________
Leaders out of touch?
Bishop analyzes political crisis
An Argentine political and economic crisis, which has forced President Fernando de la Rua to make key changes in his cabinet, came about because “leaders have been systematically turning their backs on the people,” according to Archbishop Alfonso Delgado.
In March, while the president decided to call on his former political foe Domingo Caballo to supervise Argentine economic policy, several unions, including those for transportation and teachers, called for general strikes. Archbishop Delgado of San Juan, one of the Argentine regions most deeply affected by the strikes, said on March 20 that “the political crisis is not a problem of today; it is the consequence of a long time of poor administration—a long time in which the leaders have been living in another world, distant from the people’s daily lives.”
“When leaders live in their own magical world of strategies, figures, and maps, the lives of the people will inevitably go downhill,” the archbishop added. Nevertheless, he said, “I hope that the current emergency measures (taken by President de la Rua) are an expression of a true awakening of our leadership,” and called on Catholics “to provide active, constructive involvement, not only by complaining, but also by proposing alternatives.”
The economic crisis in Argentina—which has the largest external debt in Latin America—broke up the political alliance that had brought de la Rua to power, and sparked a wave of protests, social unrest, and uncertainty among investors.
President prays with Pontiff
Unusual end to an audience
Pope John Paul II received Argentina’s President Fernando de la Rua in a private audience on April 5, and ended the session with a short period of prayer.
According to papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the meeting marked the first time that the Pope and an Argentine leader had prayed together during a formal audience. Navarro-Valls said that the climate of their discussions during that meeting had been “very cordial.”
President de la Rua was accompanied at the audience by a group of political leaders from Argentina, and Pope John Paul was cheered by the large number of politicians “who wish to promote the integral welfare of the people and an economy at the service of men.” While acknowledging that Argentina faces serious problems—an allusion to the country’s burgeoning economic crisis—the Pontiff said that the commitment shown by these political leaders should be an important asset as the government struggles to cope with the problem.
The Pope also voiced his hope that “the voice of the bishops will be heard, in order to avoid the sort of behavior that leads to corruption, poverty, and all forms of violence in society.” The people of Argentina, John Paul continued, have “repeatedly proven their commitment to the great principles such as honesty, justice, and respect for life from conception to natural death.” The people, he pointed out, have “defended these principles in many debates, and on the international scene as well.”
Finally, the Pope expressed his hope that Argentina, which will soon celebrate the 200th anniversary of its independence, “will not forget the reference to God in the preamble of its constitution.” And the same constitution, he observed, commits the nation to “open her doors to all men in the world who wish to live on Argentine soil.”
In his remarks to the Pope, de la Rua said that Argentina recognizes the process of globalization of the economy as a reality, but will resist “the sort of globalization in which consumption submerges the values of family, the culture of work, and attention to those who are weakest.” Recalling a term that was used during his conversation with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Argentine leader said that his government wished to promote “the globalization of solidarity.”