Message from Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
On 15 March 2016, in a message to family and friends of Berta Cáceres, Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, expressed his condolences for her death. He recalled Berta’s participation in the 2014 World Meeting of Popular Movements in Rome, her extraordinary work in defense of “our sister, Mother Earth” and in reaffirming the rights of native peoples, and her testimony in the presence of Pope Francis.
Cardinal Turkson further expressed his wish that an independent and impartial investigation be carried out in the matter with the aim of bringing to light the truth about this horrendous crime as quickly as possible, protecting the physical integrity of the witnesses, family members, and all of the brothers and sisters of the victims.