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The Holy Father had previously condemned the violent death of environmental leader Juan López, who was killed on September 14 in Tocoa, Colón.
Monsignor Jenry Ruiz , bishop of the Diocese of Trujillo, Colón, shared this Tuesday with Pope Francis a photograph of environmental leader Juan López , who was murdered on September 14 in Tocoa.
The meeting between Ruiz and the Supreme Pontiff took place during a training day for new bishops, and he took advantage of the moment to show him the snapshot of López, who was also a delegate of the word and defender of the Common House.
” Pope Francis was moved to receive a photograph from his brother and friend Juan López ,” the Honduran bishop wrote on his Facebook account along with a photo with Francis.
Last Sunday, Pope Francis condemned the murder of Lopez and expressed his closeness to all those “who see their rights crushed and who are committed to the common good.”
“I have received the sad news of the murder of Juan Antonio López (…) I join in the mourning of this Church and condemn all forms of violence,” said Francis at the end of the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace.
The Pontiff also said that “I am close to all those who see their basic rights crushed and to all those who are committed to the common good in response to the cry of the poor of the earth.”
Crime against environmentalist Juan López
López , who was a councilor of the Caribbean municipality of Toca, for the ruling Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) party, was murdered on September 14 despite having had precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) since 2023.
The environmentalist fought in defense of the Guapinol River and continued to be threatened for protecting the Botaderos Carlos Escaleras Mejía National Park.
Her tragic death exposes not only the vulnerability of environmental defenders, but also the gap in state actions that should guarantee their safety.
