Central America

Cardinal Rodríguez criticizes political ambitions and warns against faith driven by ideologies

Honduran Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez strongly criticized on Sunday those who seek power “at any cost” for personal gain and denounced the hypocrisy of individuals who claim to be Christians but act out of selfish interests. His remarks came during the Mass held at the Minor Basilica of Suyapa in Tegucigalpa.

“Those who want to gain power at any cost, knowing it is not to do good but to serve themselves — I don’t know them — the Lord says to them: you are not Christians, no matter how many labels or titles you give yourselves,” the prelate declared.

Rodríguez also condemned those who use social media to attack others in the name of faith. “There are people giving theology lessons while insulting others — and what do they really know? Nothing but selfishness and the obsession with holding on to power at any cost. That is worthless; they do not see how those who commit evil end up, they do not see where the dictators who have oppressed the world are today,” he stated.

The cardinal warned that faith weakens when it becomes entangled with ideologies or personal interests, pointing to the ongoing crisis in Gaza as an example. “How many men and women can truly sustain their faith if they follow ideologies, economic interests, and political agendas, while thousands die of hunger every day? Just look at those painful pages of children dying of starvation in Gaza,” he stressed.

Rodríguez also criticized those who believe they can hide moral and family failings. “So many people think they are clever because they forget that stealing is forbidden by God’s commandments. They steal, thinking no one will notice; they commit adultery or betray their families, believing it will remain hidden — but everything eventually comes to light,” he warned.

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During his homily, Rodríguez urged the faithful to place their hope and salvation in Christ, not in power or money. “Salvation cannot be bought. Salvation is God’s gift to us through the cross of Christ, but this gift is also a task: we must preserve it and make it a way of life,” he emphasized.

Finally, the cardinal called on Hondurans to embrace inner transformation by overcoming “laziness, hatred, lies, resentment, and selfishness.” He highlighted that true conversion is reflected in humility, mercy, justice, truth, and a genuine commitment to peace and reconciliation.

Central America

Guatemala narrows emergency measures to hardest-hit gang violence areas

The government of Guatemala has narrowed the scope of its state of emergency to the areas most affected by gang violence, Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda announced on Thursday.

The measure comes two months after coordinated attacks attributed to the Barrio 18 left 11 police officers dead.

President Bernardo Arévalo initially imposed a state of siege in mid-January following the violence, which was reportedly in retaliation for government intervention in three prisons where gang leaders had staged uprisings.

That measure, which allowed arrests without a warrant, expired after one month. It was then replaced by a less restrictive “state of prevention,” alongside an increased security deployment in Guatemala City and surrounding areas.

According to Villeda, the state of prevention has been extended for two additional weeks but will now apply primarily to the central department of Guatemala — home to the capital — and Escuintla, which have recorded the highest levels of homicides and criminal activity.

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“We need to continue these joint operations between the police and the military to maintain control,” the minister said.

The measure will also remain in effect in border departments including Petén, San Marcos and Huehuetenango, which border Mexico, as well as Izabal, which borders Honduras and Belize, in an effort to prevent the entry of criminal groups linked to drug trafficking.

Villeda added that in the past two weeks, homicides have dropped by 25% and extortion cases by 33% compared to the same period in 2025.

Central America

Costa Rica closes embassy in Cuba, citing human rights concerns

The government of Costa Rica announced on Wednesday the closure of its embassy in Cuba, a move that signals a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed that Costa Rica has also requested the withdrawal of Cuban diplomatic personnel from San José, leaving only consular representation in place.

According to André, the decision is driven by concerns over the worsening human rights situation on the island, including increased repression against citizens and opposition figures.

He also noted that Cuba’s ongoing economic and social crisis—marked by shortages of food, medicine, and basic services—has made the operation of the embassy increasingly difficult.

President Rodrigo Chaves backed the measure, stating that his administration does not recognize the legitimacy of Cuba’s political system.

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In response, the Cuban government rejected the decision, calling it a “unilateral” move taken under pressure from United States.

“Under pressure from the United States, Costa Rica has limited its relations with Cuba to consular matters,” Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said, describing the action as “arbitrary.”

Despite the diplomatic setback, Cuban authorities stated that historical ties between the two nations would endure.

Central America

Costa Rica closes Cuba embassy as president escalates rhetoric

The president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, escalated political rhetoric on Wednesday, stating that “the hemisphere must be cleansed of communists,” following his government’s decision to close its embassy in Cuba.

The remarks come as Costa Rica moves to downgrade diplomatic relations with the island, citing a sustained deterioration in human rights. Chaves reiterated that his administration does not recognize the legitimacy of the Cuban government, accusing it of repression and of maintaining poor living conditions for its population.

“We do not recognize the legitimacy of that government. We will not maintain a consulate there; services will be handled from Panama,” Chaves said during a press conference.

The president also argued that the communist model has “failed” not only in Cuba but in every country where it has been implemented, emphasizing that freedom is essential for development.

The decision was made in coordination with president-elect Laura Fernández, who is set to take office on May 8 and is expected to maintain the same foreign policy stance.

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Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed the closure of the embassy in Havana and requested that Cuba withdraw its diplomatic personnel from San José, while maintaining limited consular functions.

Costa Rican authorities justified the move by pointing to increased repression against citizens, activists, and opposition figures, as well as restrictions on fundamental freedoms.

The closure marks a new point of tension in bilateral relations and comes amid growing international pressure on Cuba.