By Junno Arocho
MEXICO CITY, JULY 4, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Episcopal Conference of Mexico expressed satisfaction at citizens’ participation in the presidential election that took place last Sunday.
Though the election authority has announced that a significant percentage of votes will be recounted, it was reported immediately after the election that Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) won the majority of votes over Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and Josefina Vazquez Mota of the National Action Party (PAN) to become the president-elect of Mexico.
In a statement, the bishops of Mexico commended the «exemplary participation» of voters in the election. «We are joyful witnesses of the civility and conviction shown during the electoral day, from which we hope that unity, respect and harmony among all Mexicans will prosper. We are filled with joy that democracy is recognized as a privileged way to attain the peace, justice and development that we Mexicans yearn for,» they said.
The Episcopal Conference of Mexico also applauded the officials who took part in various polling stations across the country as well as the authorities of the Federal Electoral Institute.
While congratulating Peña Nieto, the Mexican bishops took the opportunity to laud the opposing candidates for their civility. «Likewise we congratulate those who were victorious on the electoral day and we recognize the civility of the candidates and parties that were not favored by the citizens’ vote, for having shown greatness on recognizing that, in a democracy, it is the popular will that must prevail,» the bishops stated.
The bishops concluded their letter, assuring the new government of their prayers and expressed hope the newly elected president along with other officials would work for the entire Mexican population in a just manner. «We pray to Holy Mary of Guadalupe, Patroness of our liberty, that she illumine them so that they attend with solicitude to the most genuine needs of the Mexican people and that they not defraud the trust that our society has placed in their persons,» the bishops said.
