Uncle of Saavedra triplets clarifies he invited ex-President Petro to family mass
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- The uncle of the Saavedra triplets clarified that he invited former President Gustavo Petro to their family's farewell mass.
- He stated that Petro is a personal friend and his presence at the religious ceremony was not a political act.
- The uncle acknowledged political differences within the family but stressed they do not signify disunity, especially during their mourning period.
Carlos Héctor Saavedra Cardona, uncle to the Saavedra triplets and brother of the late Jairo Hernán Saavedra Cardona, has addressed the controversy surrounding former President Gustavo Petro's attendance at his family's farewell mass. The family tragically lost Jairo, his wife, and two of their daughters in an earthquake on August 10 in Cali.
The presence of the former president at the farewell mass of my loved ones was indeed at my invitation.
Carlos Héctor Saavedra Cardona stated that he personally invited the former president to the religious ceremony. He emphasized that Petro accepted the invitation because he is a "personal friend" to their family, including himself, his wife, and their children. Saavedra Cardona also clarified that Petro's presence did not transform the solemn mass into a political event, asserting that it remained a respectful and heartfelt occasion.
He accepted to accompany me, my wife, and my children because, as he stated, he is our personal friend above all.
His statement came after Ana María Saavedra, the sole survivor of the triplets, responded to a social media post by Gustavo Petro concerning the ceremony. Ana María had requested respect for her family's mourning period and distanced herself from any political association with the former president.
The presence of the former president in no way implied that the Eucharist became a political stage. On the contrary, it was a solemn, respectful, and heartfelt act.
Saavedra Cardona acknowledged that political differences exist within his family, as is common. However, he urged that these differences should not be interpreted as a sign of disunity, particularly in the wake of the tragedy. He also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of solidarity the family has received and shared his immense love for Ana María, expressing relief that she survived the tragedy and is recovering satisfactorily.
As in any family, in ours there are different political positions.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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