MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Exceptional papal waiver for bishop president in Paraguay

Elected Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo

Pope Benedict granted an unprecedented waiver to allow former bishop and elected president Fernando Lugo to serve as head of Paraguay Executive without violating church rules, said the Vatican representative in the capital Asuncion.

Although the Roman Catholic Church strongly opposes clergy taking political office, the Pope gave Fernando Lugo a special dispensation and downgraded him to layman's status. Lugo was elected last April, ending more than 60 years of one-party rule in one of South American poorest countries. "It's the first time this is granted. It was accepted because the people have chosen him and ... because his clerical status is incompatible with serving as president" said Orlando Antonini, the Vatican's ambassador to Asuncion. "The Pope has granted him the loss of his clerical status ... he's a layman now," Antonini told a news conference after meeting with Lugo. For more than ten years Lugo served as bishop in the impoverished region of San Pedro but in late 2006 he launched his political career despite church opposition. At the time he had asked that the Vatican grant him layman's status so he could run for president at the head of a center-left coalition. The Holy See rejected this, suspending him from priestly duties but saying he was still a bishop since his ordination was a lifelong sacrament. After Lugo won the election, the Vatican reconsidered its position. He assumes the presidency on August 15. "I'd like to sincerely thank his holiness Pope Benedict for a decision that hasn't been easy for the Vatican," Lugo told reporters. "They reconsidered my request for the good of the country". At least ten heads of state and 76 international delegations will be present at the taking office ceremony of President Lugo next August 15 was confirmed by the coordination committee between the outgoing and incoming governments. The long list includes the South American heavyweights Lula da Silva from Brazil; Hugo Chavez from Venezuela; Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina; Michelle Bachelet, Chile; Evo Morales from neighboring Bolivia; Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua; Martin Torrijos, Panama; Jose Zelaya, Honduras and Tabare Vazquez from Uruguay. Another distinguished visitor is Chen Shui-bian from Taiwan, since Paraguay is one of the few countries in the world that still recognizes the Taipei government, in spite of Beijing. The ceremony will also include some changes. Outgoing president Nicanor Duarte Flores will hand the sash and other symbols to Congress president Gonzalez Quintana during a special session. Mr. Duarte will then head to his private residence. When the session resumes President Lugo will officially take the oath of office and given the symbols of the post.