Efe Panama City
City of Panama
Updated Sunday, February 4, 2024-21:04
Spain They find the Spanish cardinal José Luis Lacunza, missing in Panama for two days
Navarrese Cardinal
José Luis Lacunza, 79 years old
and bishop of the diocese of David, in the Panamanian province of Chiriquí, apologized this Sunday for the
"stupid prank"
that led him to be missing for two days and caused the mobilization of the authorities. for your search.
"It was a stupid ploy, because I didn't do it when I was 15 years old and I have done it now when I am going to turn 80. What an outrage!
The older I am, the more idiotic
," Lacunza expressed before parishioners at a mass held this Sunday.
Lacunza was found last Thursday afternoon "disoriented" but in
"good health" in the district of Boquete,
an area located about 39 kilometers from the city of David, as reported at the time by the Police, whose agents found him in your car.
The cardinal, a native of Pamplona, had been
missing since last Tuesday
afternoon, as reported by those around him on Wednesday night, and the situation became public on Thursday, as explained then by the Attorney General of Panama, Javier Caraballo, who mobilized a team of prosecutors to Chiriquí to reinforce the investigation of the case.
"Before finishing (this Sunday's mass) I want to offer you my apologies and
ask for forgiveness for the displeasure I caused you in recent days
. I know you had a bad time, some shed abundant tears, I don't deserve them, I tell you sincerely, but I appreciate them, especially their prayers," Lacunza said.
This is the
first explanation for the
cardinal's disappearance that is given publicly.
An Augustinian Recollect, Lacunza was born in Pamplona on February 24, 1944, although he has lived most of his life as a religious in Panama. He was named cardinal on February 14, 2015 by Pope Francis.