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3/8/1983 - The Pope’s Visit to Central America: A Different Perspective by Kimberley A. Conroy

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Paseo Reforma KAC Col Cuauhtemoc exico D F C P 06500 exico The Pooe Visit Central America A Different Persectie Peter Bird artin Institute Current World Affairs Wheelock House West Wheelock treet Hanover New Hampshire Dear Peter Pope John Paul II visit Central America arouses images cheering crowds swarming streets packed plazas But peasants living remote villages hundreds miles capital cities Pope through radios televisions In San Juan Bosco dusty village hidden barren mountains southwest Honduras there television It small black white battery operated Sony owned Antonio Torres village better peasant farmers Like other hundred twenty families San Juan Bosco Torres family white washed adobe existence rocky hillside where beans Last Tuesday Senor Torres issued invitation village watch Pope visit their nation capital Tegucigalpa T V For previous villagers followed Pope travels their portable radios Antonio small filled peasant families since early morning peasants wearing tattered clothes little trousers short least children barefoot Entering through kitchen villagers greeted Antonio whisper obvious characteristic signs innate humility Honduran peasant They passed talked quietly amongst themselves until telecast began Isn beautiful The Pope visit Central America You first Viait region enthused C orina Ortiz nursing tenth child Yes shame Padre olina butted Pancha Banquedano small peasant woman dressed polyester shift And shame afford there capital Holy Father Padre olina priest visits San Juan Bosco Usually stays months other eight months village cement roofed church remains under With hundred priests attend Honduras million Catholics country villages priests rarely Yet Kim Conroy fellow Institute Current World Affairs exico Her interest political economic situations exico Central America affect affected U S foreign policy Honduran peasants consider themselves devout Catholics The people San Juan Bosco proudly repeated visits microphone toting Protestan evangelists produced single convert Although Juan Bosco capital three hours peasants could spare money Pope Even years barely produce enough beans provide subsistence their large families which least eight children But drought virtually destroyed villagers Seeing Pope became impossible dream So settled thing And Papamobile there Holy Father waving crowds shrieked T V announcer befitting Superbowl visit God representative earth Suddenly conversation Tortes household Antonio ushered dozens children front adults The plastic chairs given women villagers reverently settled floor For drifted T V Thepeasants stood crossed themselves appropriate moments murmuring prayers television screen transformed altar physically present Pope Pope John Paul II spoke emotively importance Virgin Mary model women problems unemployment poverty political disappearances Honduras peace region The crowds cheered every Pope paused They waved their yellow white flags shouting Viva Ppa But through villagers San Juan Bosco solemn faced For broadcast television split image crowds covered screen suspended above small circle Pope saying Many villagers think Pope God earth The image hovering multitudes further enforced belief When broadcast ended I asked people audience hoped Pope visit region would bring Repeatedly I received answer Peace San Juan Bosco located three hours drive borders Nicaragua E1 Salvador Conn where fighting fiercest recent years The villagers San Juan Bosco their neighbors conflicts conflicts whose political oigins udersta spill borders cause havoc their tranquil impoverished All