Catholic World News News Feature
Thansksgiving For Peace At Guatemalan Shrine January 20, 1997
ESQUIPULAS, Guatemala (CWN) -- Thousands of Catholics from Guatemala, Mexico, and other Central American countries have begun their annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Black Christ of Esquipulas-- where, this year, they will celebrate the signing of a peace pact which has brought an end to a full generation of civil war in Guatemala.
Every year, pilgrims flock to the Basilica of Esquipulas, with its unique dark wooden image of the crucified Christ, to hear testimony about the miracles that have come after faithful worshippers prayed there. But this year, in particular, they will concentrate on the answered prayers of several national leaders from the region. In May 1986, Presidents Jose Napoleon Duarte of El Salvador, Jose Azcona of Honduras, Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, and Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, gathered at the Basilica at the request of the president of Guatemala, Vinicio Cerezo, to pray for peace in Central American and in their respective countries. More than ten years later, with the signing of the Guatemala accord, that prayer seems to have been answered.
Esquipulas is recognized as the city in which the rocky process to peace in Central America started. In fact, even though the 1987 treaty was signed in Guatemala City, it bears the name Esquipulas. Nevertheless, few recognize that the city was chosen because it is the home of most revered Catholic shrine in the region.
Guatemalans, however, recognize their beloved shrine of the Black Christ as the starting point of the peace process that eventually brought an agreement between the government and guerrilla forces. And they also recognize the key role played by the city's Bishop Rodolfo Quezada Toruno, the only national figure accepted by both sides as a mediator. Bishop Quezada headed the first "Commission of National Reconciliation" until 1993, when his role was replaced by the United Nations. From that date until 1995, he headed the "Civil Assembly," which also played a key role. One year before the peace agreement was finally signed-- in December 1996-- Bishop Quezada dropped out of all public participation, stating that "the conversations are now in a good and steady way, so I can go back to my pastoral duties."
In this year's annual celebration of the patronal feast at Esquipulas, Bishop Quezada thanked God for bringing to fruition the request that Pope John Paul made in front of the image of the Black Christ one year ago: to bring peace and reconciliation to Guatemala.
The city of Esquipulas was founded by the Spaniards between 1560 and 1570 with the name of Santiago de Esquipulas. The venerated image of the Black Christ dates back to March 9, 1595, when the Portuguese sculptor Quirio Catano presented it to the mayor of the city. The cathedral at Esquipulas was proclaimed a Basilica in 1961 by Pope John XXIII, and last year, celebrating the 400 anniversary of the shrine, Pope John Paul II proclaimed it "the spiritual center of Central America."
