World · Latin America · 7 hrs ago
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.
Priest Ferdinando Mancílio criticized people who hold an image of Our Lady of Aparecida without loving her.
He made the remarks during a Mass at the National Shrine of Aparecida in São Paulo state on Monday.
Without naming politicians, he called such people liars and spoke about peace and justice.
The remarks came amid political controversy over the saint’s status as Brazil’s patroness.
The two candidates in the presidential runoff attended Masses honoring Our Lady of Aparecida on Monday.
- Who
- Priest Ferdinando Mancílio.
- What
- He criticized people who hold an image of Our Lady of Aparecida without loving her, calling them liars.
- When
- Monday, October 12.
- Where
- The National Shrine of Aparecida in São Paulo state, Brazil.
- Why
- He reaffirmed Our Lady of Aparecida’s title as Brazil’s patroness and spoke about peace and justice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mancílio criticized a march to Brasília led by federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira.
A controversy arose after presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro said he would declare Brazil to belong to the Lord Jesus Christ if elected, prompting false claims that he would remove Our Lady of Aparecida as patroness.
Mancílio spoke during a Mass at the National Shrine of Aparecida.
Flávio Bolsonaro attended a Mass at Brasília Cathedral, while Lula attended one at the Alvorada Palace.
- Priest
- Ferdinando Mancílio
- Church
- National Shrine of Aparecida, São Paulo state
- Occasion
- Feast day of Our Lady of Aparecida, October 12
- Politician mentioned in the surrounding controversy
- Flávio Bolsonaro
- Earlier criticism
- Mancílio criticized a march to Brasília in February
What people are saying
Our Lady comes to tell us adults: enough lies.
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.
Lady of our homeland, grant that the Brazilian people, faithful to their vocation, a vocation to peace and justice, may reach the definitive homeland.








