Chile

Pope focuses on migrants at final Chile mass

Santiago - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis highlighted the plight of vulnerable immigrants on Thursday and robustly defended a bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse at the end of a visit to Chile overshadowed by controversy. In the northern border region of Iquique, which he said was "the land of dreams" for so many, the pope hit out at human traffickers and others who seek to takeRead more

In Chile, pope says violence not answer in fight for indigenous rights

Temuco - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis on Wednesday denounced the use of violence in the struggle for indigenous rights in Chile, after a series of arson attacks on churches in the heartland of the country's largest indigenous group ahead of his visit. "We have to insist that a culture of mutual esteem may not be based on acts of violence and destruction that endRead more

Pope in Chile expresses 'pain' and 'shame' over abuse scandal

Santiago - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis publicly expressed "pain and shame" on Tuesday over the rape and molestation of children by priests in Chile and later listened, prayed and cried at a private meeting with victims. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said the meeting took place in the Vatican embassy in Santiago. "No one else was present. Only the pope and the victims," the spokesman said. "ThisRead more

Pope in Chile seeks forgiveness for sex abuse scandals

Santiago - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis met alone Tuesday with a small group of victims of sexual abuse by priests in Chile, after he publicly asked for forgiveness and riot police broke up a protest near the first public mass of his South American visit. During the "strictly private" meeting at the Vatican's Apostolic Nunciature embassy in Santiago, the victims "spoke of their suffering to PopeRead more

Pope in Chile calls for respect of 'rights' of indigenous people

Santiago - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis called Tuesday for respect of the rights and culture of indigenous peoples, as he made his first speech during a visit to Chile. It is necessary to listen to native peoples, "often forgotten and whose rights and protected culture must be taken into account," said the pontiff in an address to political authorities. He made no specific mentionRead more

Pope voices nuclear war concerns at outset

Rome - Muslimchronicle

Pope Francis admitted Monday he was frightened by the prospect of an accidental nuclear war as he headed for a weeklong visit to Chile and Peru. "I think we are at the very edge," the pope told reporters aboard his plane when asked about the threat of a nuclear war in the wake of a recent string of tests by North Korea andRead more

Billionaire ex-president Pinera leads in Chile election

Santiago - Muslimchronicle

Chile's billionaire ex-president Sebastian Pinera is on track to return to office, according to partial results from a runoff election held Sunday. Electoral authorities said the 68-year-old conservative, who previously ruled 2010-2014, had 54 percent, with nearly half the ballots counted. That placed him comfortably ahead of leftist challenger Alejandro Guillier, a TV presenter turned senator who ran as anRead more

Billionaire Pinera to return as Chile's president: results

Santiago - Muslimchronicle

Billionaire former president Sebastian Pinera will return as Chile's leader next year, according to near-complete official results from a runoff election held Sunday. Pinera's leftist rival in the race, senator and former TV presenter Alejandro Guillier, recognized his "tough defeat." Electoral authorities said Pinera won 55 percent of the vote, based on a count of 92 percent of the ballots.Read more

Polls open in Chilean presidential election

Santiago - Muslimchronicle

Polls opened on Sunday in Chile's presidential election to choose a successor to Michelle Bachelet. About 14 million people are eligible to cast ballots at more than 43,000 polling stations in a contest whose outcome is uncertain after a surge from the left. source: xinhuaRead more