MIAMI, Florida, MAY 26, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Thomas Wenski commemorated Argentina’s May Revolution on Monday with the Argentine ex-patriot community of Miami, describing their Catholic faith as «Latin America’s greatest treasure.»
It is «not a political ideology, or a social movement, or an economic system,» the archbishop explained, «it is faith in God-Love, incarnated, dead and resurrected in Jesus Christ, the authentic foundation of the hope that produced such magnificent fruits from the first evangelization up til today.»
The archbishop affirmed this during the homily of the Mass in honor of the Virgin of Lujan, celebrated in the St. Francis and St. Clare Mission of Miami. The ceremony, which included Argentine religious songs, was organized by the Argentine Consulate in Miami, and was broadcast live by Radio Paz 830AM, the radio station of the Archdiocese of Miami.
The Mass took place during the celebrations of «May Week,» organized by the Argentine Consulate in Miami, to mark the political developments that took place in Buenos Aires in May 1810, which led to independence for Argentina from the Spanish Empire.
Attending the celebration were the Argentine consul general in Miami, José Miguel Talento, officials of the consulate, Argentine businessmen residing in Miami and members of the Argentine community.
Argentina Today
Archbishop Wenski addressed several issues of pastoral concern in contemporary Argentina in his homily, including the need to respect human rights, particularly the fundamental right to life.
«There is a manifest contradiction between the promotion of abortion and the defense of human rights,» the archbishop said.
He also said that there can be no genuine social progress in a country that does not promote family life based on the stable union between a man and a woman.
The archbishop also touched upon the migratory issues in the United States in his homily, a topic that has been the object of numerous pronouncements on the part of the U.S. episcopate. Addressing illegal immigrants, the archbishop encouraged them not to lose faith in the love of God «because this faith — despite the present shadows — will illumine the path to hope. The love of God has no borders. Created in the image and likeness of God, every human being has the same destiny, to be a friend of God.»
The archbishop exhorted Argentines residing in Miami to value and cherish their culture because, «if by the mere fact that we are outside our country, which saw our birth, we break with our culture — with our values and national principles inspired by the Gospel — we run the risk of suffering much damage.»
