Chile Archives

Pope receives pectoral cross made of wood from Chilean church burned in protests

Jul 9, 2021

Pope Francis was given a pectoral cross made from wood remains of a church in Chile destroyed by arson last year during street protests.

By Inés San Martín

Catholic bishops oppose Chilean president’s move to legalize gay marriage

Jun 4, 2021

Chile’s president surprised friends and foes on Wednesday, when during his last remarks to Congress before his coalition government ends in March 2022, he asked legislators to treat with “urgency” a project to legalize gay marriage.

By Inés San Martín

Chile’s Jesuits confess ‘crimes, negligence and errors’ on sex abuse

May 29, 2021

In an internal report made public this week, the Jesuits of Chile acknowledge that based on accusations and investigations that emerged over a fifteen-year period, at least 64 people have been sexually abused by 11 Jesuit priests in the country.

By Inés San Martín

Latin America prepares for Holy Week as COVID cases rise

Mar 30, 2021

As Catholics around the world enter the holiest week in the Christian calendar, many are setting their plan for Church attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes in Latin America, one of the hardest hit regions in the world.

By Inés San Martín

Three South American elections could help define church-state relations

Mar 25, 2021

A trio of elections along South America’s Pacific Coast on April 11 could define how countries are governed, including church-state relationships, after several years of upheaval.

By Lucien Chauvin

Girl’s battle with cancer inspires faith in friends, family

Mar 24, 2021

On March 15, Constanza Alva de Urmeneta got in the car behind the hearse for the funeral procession of her 15-year-old daughter, Pía Urmeneta. Typically, somber occasions, it was apparent from the second they drove off the church lot that this was instead a celebration of Pía’s life, just as she had wanted.

By John Lavenburg

Chilean bishop calls for civil disobedience over Mass restrictions

Mar 17, 2021

A Chilean bishop is urging civil disobedience after several regions of the country went into lockdown again to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, imposing heavy restrictions on the celebration of religious ceremonies.

By Inés San Martín

In Lenten message, Chilean bishops apologize for abuse

Feb 15, 2021

In a message released Feb. 15, the bishops of Chile asked forgiveness once again from God and our brothers and sisters who have been abused, mistreated, excluded or ignored by some of their ministers.

By Inés San Martín