With the Pope’s apostolic visit to “his” Mexico (he was born in Real de Catorce) and Cuba (where he lived for six years) just around the corner, with the tenth anniversary of his election as Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation not long from now (3 April) and having celebrated his 65th birthday this year (20 December), Fr. Pascual Chávez Villanueva, the ninth successor of St. Giovanni Bosco, gives an interview.
Fr. Chávez, have these years been for the most part arduous or exciting for you?
“They have, without the shadow of a doubt been the most exciting but also the most busy years of my life. Exciting because being the Successor of Don Bosco is truly stimulating, as I felt I had been called – as John Paul II reminded me – to ensure and promote loyalty to the Founder, whilst at the same time being able to respond to the new challenges of the Salesian mission. It was wonderful to be told on so many occasions: “You may not resemble Don Bosco physically but you certainly have his heart.”
However, it was also a very busy decade, particularly because the Congregation is so big, present in 132 Countries all over the world. Then there was the painful and worrying paedophilia question in the U.S. that erupted in 2002. This gradually spread to the rest of the world and sadly involved fellow brothers of ours. Finally, the fact that steps had to be taken to address the issue of the ageing of Salesians in Europe, of the scarcity of vocations added to the difficulty of managing all the works carried out by the institute, led me and my Council to begin the process of reconfiguring the presence of Salesians on this continent. This process is still underway.”
In a couple of weeks the Pope will embark on his journey to Mexico and Cuba: who will Benedict XVI meet with? What is the current situation in these Countries, especially in relation to Christians?
“Cuba is going through a transitional phase; I do not know to what extent this transition has been led or monitored by the former president, Fidel Castro. On the one hand he is seen as a living example of the idealistic or ideological validity of Communism and the social organisation created from the moment of his ascent to power; on the other hand, there is a visible and growing liberalisation that is leading towards a market economy.
In as far as the Church is concerned, after the enthusiasm generated by ENEC (Cuban National Ecclesial Meeting)back in its day, when the Church dared to speak up, Church life returned to its normal daily rhythm, even though it was basically limited to worship, evangelisation and catechesis.
Mexico, which is currently going through a phase of political campaigning ahead of the presidential elections on 1 July, has been experiencing violence and uncertainty for years because of clashes between drug cartels over the control of drug trafficking zones and other hardcore criminal groups add to the violence.
The political choice of President Felipe Calderón to engage in a head-on battle with these groups, gave rise to a war that has led to thousands upon thousands of deaths over the past six years, highlighting the lack of rule of law.
Nevertheless, from an economic point of view, the Country has managed to hold strong amidst the terrible financial and economic crisis that has been plaguing the world since 2008. In terms of Mexican Church, the Pope will be met by a people that continue to be profoundly religious and deeply devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe, despite being constantly challenged by sects and secularisation.”
On a more general note, how is Latin America doing?
“At a time when faster and deeper changes are taking place in the world as a result of scientific advances, new technologies, globalisation and social communication, Latin America is certainly not standing by and watching. It too is experiencing the influx of of all these elements which signal a new era. Although there have been attempts and various plans to unite Countries and form alliances, a mosaic of very varied realities still exists. That is to say that while some Countries have consolidated themselves economically (for example Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico), others are still very poor. While some Countries have strengthened their democracies, others are experiencing a rebirth of caudallismo and populism of a different mould.”
What kind of a Pope will Latin America receive? What is your appraisal of the seven (almost) years of Benedict XVI’s papacy?