World · Latin America · 7 hrs ago

Priest criticizes people who hold Aparecida image without loving her

Priest criticizes people who hold Aparecida image without loving her

Father Ferdinando Mancílio spoke at a Mass on Monday at the National Shrine of Aparecida in São Paulo state, Brazil.

He reaffirmed Our Lady of Aparecida’s status as Brazil’s patron saint and called people who hold her image without loving her liars.

He did not name any politicians.

His remarks came amid election debate over the saint, after presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro said he would declare Brazil to belong to Jesus Christ if elected.

A false claim then spread that he planned to remove Our Lady of Aparecida as patron saint, which Bolsonaro denied responsibility for spreading and the Brazilian bishops’ conference rejected.

Bolsonaro later held an image of the saint at a campaign event, and both candidates in the presidential runoff attended Masses honoring her on Monday.

Mancílio also called for peace and justice; the account gives no further next steps.

What people are saying

Our Lady comes to tell us adults: enough lies.
Ferdinando MancílioCatholic priestvia Folha
We are indignant when there is an image of Our Lady in someone’s hands, but we know she is not loved by the person holding it.
Ferdinando MancílioCatholic priestvia Folha
Lady of our homeland, grant that the Brazilian people, faithful to their vocation, a vocation to peace and justice, may reach the definitive homeland.
Ferdinando MancílioCatholic priestvia Folha

Sources

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