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.
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 Declares Highest Alert in Areas Affected by Fuego Volcano Eruption
Guatemalan authorities declared a red alert, the highest level of danger, on Tuesday in areas affected by the eruption of the Fuego Volcano, located about 35 kilometers from the country’s capital.
The most active volcano in Central America entered an eruptive phase on Monday morning, and its activity intensified overnight with lava emissions and large columns of gas and ash.
No fatalities have been reported, but the volcanic activity forced the evacuation of around 500 people as a precautionary measure.
The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conred) declared a state of emergency in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla, the agency announced through its official X account.
The affected regions are home to approximately 1.6 million people. However, ashfall has so far impacted only about five municipalities.
Despite the increase in the alert level, authorities reopened a road leading to the city of Antigua, the country’s main tourist destination, after evaluating safety conditions in the area.
The Fuego Volcano is one of Guatemala’s most active geological formations and has a history of frequent eruptions, requiring continuous monitoring by national emergency agencies.
Central America
U.S. Defense Secretary to Close Multinational Military Exercises in Panama to Protect Canal
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to close multinational military exercises involving more than 20 countries aimed at strengthening security measures for the Panama Canal against potential threats, a Panamanian government official announced Monday.
This will mark Hegseth’s second visit to Panama. The U.S. defense chief is expected to arrive on August 13 for the closing ceremony of the military drills, which began this week and have been conducted in the Central American country for more than two decades to support the protection of the interoceanic waterway, according to Panama’s Security Minister Frank Ábrego.
The exercises include participation from the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru and the United Kingdom, among other nations.
“The canal is a strategic infrastructure that connects markets and supports global supply chains. Its security and uninterrupted operation are of fundamental importance for Panama, the United States and the international community,” said U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera.
The drills include maritime training operations, exercises in jungle areas surrounding the canal, as well as virtual simulations focused on cybersecurity and strategic planning.
The Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important trade routes, handles approximately 5% of global maritime commerce, making its security a priority for international trade and logistics networks.
Ábrego emphasized that preparedness and international coordination are essential to maintaining stability.
“The best way to preserve peace and guarantee the continuity of global trade is to be prepared to respond in a coordinated and effective manner to any threat,” the Panamanian official said.
Central America
Prosecutors Accuse Ex-Defense Minister of Undermining Press Freedom in Honduras
Honduras’ Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday filed criminal charges against retired General Roosevelt Hernández, the country’s former defense minister and former chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over his alleged role in actions that prosecutors say undermined press freedom and freedom of expression.
Prosecutors said the case was brought by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for the Protection of Journalists, Social Communicators, Human Rights Defenders and Justice Officials following an investigation into content published between 2025 and 2026 on a digital media platform operated by the Honduran Armed Forces.
According to the investigation, the publications were reported by journalists and the Honduran Journalists Association (CPH), which described them as part of an alleged campaign to discredit members of the press and media organizations.
The case dates back to May 2025, when the CPH filed complaints with national and international organizations after the Armed Forces referred to three journalists as “hitmen” in an article published by FF.AA. Digital. The association argued that the publication endangered the journalists’ safety and constituted an attack on press freedom.
The journalists identified in the publication as “hitmen of the truth” were Rodrigo Wong Arévalo, director of the television news program Abriendo Brecha; Dagoberto Rodríguez, director of Radio Cadena Voces; and Juan Carlos Sierra, president of the Honduran Journalists Association. The article also included photographs of the three journalists and the CPH’s logo.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office said the case file includes formal complaints, pretrial investigative proceedings, a specialized forensic analysis of audiovisual and digital material, and witness testimony gathered during the investigation to determine whether the publications violated freedom of expression and the exercise of journalism.
Authorities emphasized that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are protected under the Honduran Constitution as well as international treaties ratified by the country.
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