Not surprisingly, almost everybody who is somebody in Mexican politics turned out for this morning's open air Mass said by Pope Benedict XVI. Today is his last day in the country. Tomorrow he heads to Cuba.
President Felipe Calderón attended the Mass, as did several of his cabinet members. The entire Roman Catholic hierarchy of Mexico was present - including several dozen bishops, archbishops and three cardinals. Former Mexican president Vicente Fox was another prominent invitee. But undoubtedly the most watched participants were the country's three main presidential candidates: Enrique Peña Nieto (PRI), Josefina Vázquez Mota (PAN) and Andrés Manuel López Obrador (PRD). About 650,000 persons turned out for the service.
As López Obrador was leaving the Mass he was confronted by protesters who carried signs and called out, "Say yes to life, no to abortion."
I've not heard López Obrador directly or indirectly address the topic of abortion in recent months. But abortion is legal in Mexico’s Federal District, where he served as governor from 2000-2006. There's no question the PRD nominee is considered by all as Mexico's leftist candidate, and justifiably or not he's usually associated with liberal causes, including support for same-sex marriage. That may be one reason that a controversial Mexican cardinal allegedly tried to enlist U.S. help to derail López Obrador's presidential campaign in 2006 (http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.mx/2011/11/mexican-archbishop-to-us-stop-leftist.html). Calderón barely squeaked by López Obrador that year, by a mere one-half of one percent of the votes cast. It was the closest such race in Mexico's history, and some PRD supporters who alleged fraud six years ago still refer to their candidate as "the legitimate president of Mexico." The press reported that protocol aids seated López Obrador some distance from Calderón at today's Mass - probably to avoid friendly small talk about those troubling 2006 election results.
Since their respective party nominations, neither Enrique Peña Nieto nor Josefina Vázquez Mota have expressed their views on the hot-button topics of abortion and gay marriage.
Mexico's election is July 1. The formal campaign season permitted by law opens March 30. With one exception, all presidential preference polls since Jan.1 have shown Peña Nieto comfortably in first place followed by Vázquez Mota, who generally has lagged behind by 7 to 15 points. López Obrador has been a distant third placer in the surveys of likely voters.
Note: A special guest at this morning's Mass was the widow of Mexico's former Secretary of Governmental Affairs Francisco Blake Mora. Mora was killed along with seven other federal officials in a tragic helicopter crash on Nov. 11. He was the second member of the Calderón administration to die in an aircraft accident since 2008. Calderón aid killed in helicopter crash: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/calderon-top-cabinet-member-killed-in.html.
Mexican presidential candidates address abortion, same-sex unions: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/mexican-presidential-candidates-address.html.
Mexican Catholic Church urges faithful to vote in accord with "reflective conscience": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/mexican-catholic-church-urges-faithful.html.
Mexico's Supreme Judicial Court fails to strike down state anti-abortion laws: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/mexicos-supreme-judicial-court-fails-to.html.
Mexico grapples with abortion; First Lady sides with pro-lifers: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/mexico-grapples-with-abortion-first.html.
Did Pope Benedict pressure the Mexican Supreme Court on its abortion decision?: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/did-pope-benedict-pressure-mexican.html.
Abortion likely to be revisited in Mexico: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/abortion-likely-to-be-revisited-in.html.
Mexico's highest court upholds right of same-sex couples to marry: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/mexicos-highest-court-upholds-right-of.html.
Gay activists protest outside of PAN headquarters: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/gay-activists-protest-outside-of-pan-hq.html.
Mexico losing Catholics: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/mexico-losing-catholics-even-as-relics.html.
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