El Salvador prelate recalls 20th anniversary of peace agreement

January 05, 2012

Twenty years after a peace agreement ended the conflict between El Salvador’s government and leftist rebels, the nation’s leading prelate expressed gratitude that the peace has endured but also expressed concern about continued violence.

“We as a Church have always appreciated the peace agreements,” which ended the lengthy conflict (1980-92) that claimed 75,000 lives, said Archbishop José Luis Escobar of San Salvador. Yet “we cannot think that all is well. In making the assessment we have to admit that there has been progress, but we must recognize with much regret the violence and poverty in which we live. We cannot forget the many victims of violence today.”

The nation of 6.2 million is 80% Catholic, according to Vatican statistics.

 

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Further information:

• After 20 years since the Peace Agreements, the Church calls for a new national social Pact (Fides)