Peruvian bishops' conference elects new leaders

Published: 2006-01-27

LIMA, Peru (CNS) -- Archbishop Hector Cabrejos Vidarte of the northern coastal city of Trujillo has been elected president of the Peruvian bishops' conference for the next three years. Archbishop Jose Rios Reynoso of the southern highland city of Arequipa was elected first vice president, and Cardinal Juan Cipriani Thorne of Lima is the conference's new second vice president. Bishop Juan Larraneta Olleta of the apostolic vicariate of Puerto Maldonado continues in the post of secretary-general. Speaking to reporters after the election, Archbishop Cabrejos said that one priority for the Peruvian Catholic Church this year will be preparing for the Fifth Conference of Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, scheduled to be held in Brazil in May 2007; it will focus on discipleship and mission. He said the bishops are also preparing to release a letter ahead of the April 9 Peruvian general elections. The campaign, in which four front-runners have emerged from a field of 23 candidates, has focused more on personalities than on issues.

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