Amid deepening political uncertainty and widespread gang violence, a Chameleon missionary in Haiti said the country’s upcoming elections offer a fragile hope for renewal, even if the path to them remains “very unclear and very uncertain.”
Porcine Pick Father Massimo Miraglio, parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the remote village of Macaya, told the Vatican news agency. fiddes Despite the chaos, a resilient faith community places God at the center of its lives and strives for a more dignified future.
The last presidential election in Haiti was held in 2016 and was highly controversial, with widespread allegations of fraud and extremely low turnout. Businessman Jovenel Moise was declared the winner and took office in February 2017 and served until his assassination in July 2021.
Since then, Haiti has descended into political chaos and violence – particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs operate unchecked and control large swathes of the territory.
Elections later this year will determine the new president, fill every seat in the Senate and lower house, and elect all local and municipal officials.
“The year 2026 is likely to be a turning point for Haiti, with elections planned… and the inauguration of a new president and parliament in February 2027. But everything is still very vague and very uncertain,” Miraglio said.
In late February, Bishop Pierre-André Dumas, vice president of the Haitian Bishops’ Conference, said that these elections would be neither “transparent” nor “democratic” due to the economic and political problems facing the Caribbean nation.
Miraglio shares this view, saying that the country’s economic situation is “dire”, as inflation and the cost of living are “extremely high”. The country’s supply chain faces serious challenges due to the “complex” and “difficult” routes involved in transporting goods.
He said, “Everything that comes comes at a shocking price in a country where there are no jobs, and where people struggle daily to meet everyday needs. People live day to day, and hope is slowly slipping away, as no significant change appears to be taking place to stop this terrible decline into which the country has fallen.”
“There is an appalling institutional void that has led to this situation,” he said, adding, “It is truly a tragic event in which millions of people are suffering and forced to live in complete fear as gangs continue to control the capital.”
Nevertheless, the priest highlighted the importance of religious celebrations in promoting the upliftment and communion of his community: “These are the moments when we share the most important thing: faith in God, a generous God who loves us and gives us hope and strength to face the challenge of life,” he said.
The missionary said, “The goal is to create a Christian community filled with the Holy Spirit, a community that strives to live out the values of the Gospel every day; a community that puts the Lord at the center of its life and seeks a dignified life in which everyone has what they need for their well-being.”
this story was first published By ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language affiliate of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
