The President of Mexico has written a letter to Pope Francis apologizing for the Catholic Church’s role in the persecution of indigenous peoples during the Spanish conquest 100 years ago.
The request was made in a two-page letter, asking the Vatican to temporarily return several ancient native manuscripts kept in its library before the anniversary of the Spanish conquest of Mexico ends next year.
The letter, dated October 2, was posted on the Twitter page of President Man Mandres Manuel López Obrador on Saturday, the same day Mexico City officials decided to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus threatening to knock down protesters.
The letter was handed to the pope by Beatriz Gutierrez M મller, wife of L Opez Obrador, who met with him at the Vatican on Friday after meeting with Italian President Sergio Materella.
López Obrador said the Spanish Crown, the Spanish government and the Vatican should apologize to the natives for the “most heinous atrocities” since the Spanish conquerors arrived in Mexico in 1521.
“They deserve not only a liberal attitude in our party, but also a sincere commitment not to commit another disrespectful act against their beliefs and cultures.”
The Catholic Church played a major role as Spain colonized America and expanded its empire, organizing missions to convert the indigenous people to Christianity.
La Paz Obrador made a similar request in a letter to King Felipe and Pope of Spain last year, but the Spanish government flatly rejected the request.
The pope apologized to Bolivia in 2015 for the role of the church in Latin America during the Spanish colonial era.
In a letter to the Vatican this month, López Obrador called for the return of three codes, including the Codex Borgia, specifically a colorful screen-folded book that spans dozens of pages, describing the gods and rituals of ancient central Mexico.
The pre-conquest is an excellent preserved example of Aztec-style writing, in which colonial-era Mexico was abolished by Catholic authorities as a work of the devil and burned hundreds or even thousands in subsequent decades. Conquest of 1521.
Lepez Obrador urges the Vatican for a one-year loan in Codex Borgia, two other ancient Codisos, as well as its map Aztec Tenochittilan 2021.
The nationalist president is planning a series of events to celebrate next year.
The Vatican has not yet responded to the request, but its museums and archives have in the past provided various manuscripts and works of art following similar requests from other countries.
In Mexico City on Saturday, authorities removed a statue of Christopher Columbus two days before protesters planned to knock him down during events celebrating the arrival of the Italian navigator in the United States.
The culture ministry said the statue was removed from Reform Avenue at the request of city officials, adding that it has been taken down for a restoration installation.
Activist groups organized a protest on Monday, October 12, 1492, the date of Columbus’ arrival in the United States, “Monday we will rebuke him.”
In Mexico, the country celebrates the date as Dia de la Raza (Race Day), in recognition of the mixed indigenous and European heritage.
Mayor Claudia Shenbum said the statue could be returned once the restoration work is completed. “Maybe it will be worthwhile … a collective reflection on what (Columbus) represents, especially over the coming year,” he said at a press conference.
