Hist410 Case Study Latin America/Catholic

Case Study: The Pope In Nicaragua 1983

Tatiana Bonete

Chamberlain College

Contemporary History

The Pope In Nicaragua 1983

The Catholic Churches has traditionally been in support of anti-communists. In 1983, in Latin America, people started seeing the effects of the type of society they were in. The poor weren’t benefiting as the rich kept gaining. Because of this, many Catholic priests started supporting Marxism. They believe that this would help the poor, as how Christ would do. This issue had caught the pope’s attention. On March 1983, Pope John Paul II gave Nicaragua a visit.

With the pope’s visit, everyone had an expectation of what the pope might state in regards to the issues going on in Latin America. What comes unexpectedly is what the pope addressed instead. The reform-minded Catholics in Nicaragua hoped for the pope to “make some sympathetic remarks.” (Hoyt, 1996) Especially following the incident that occurred recently of the deaths of the teenagers in that same setting that the speech is being held, the pope was expected to give words of support, encouragements and prayers. Instead, the pope addressed the issue of the Catholic priests that is with or attempting to make alliance with Marxism with “unrelieved bleakness.” (Hoyt, 1996) The attendees were surprised by the attitude the pope has brought.

Pope John Paul II was angered hearing that this particular Catholic members in Latin America took side against the Catholic church, as to wanting their society to become communists. The pope made it clear to these Catholic priests that independence from the Catholic Church is “absurd and dangerous.” (Riding, 1983) It is important that churches need to stay united. People were left shocked and disappointed, as the pope did not support their beliefs nor he did not find a middle ground for compromise. His visit did not provide the people with a solution to help reform their political...