The Guatemalan Episcopal Conference elected Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini, a defender of popular causes, as its new president on Friday.
Ramazzini has been bishop of San Marcos, in western Guatemala for 17 years where he has always sided with the most needy and where he took a firm stand against mining, which he called bad for the country. He is an outspoken critic of Glamis Gold’s controversial World Bank funded Marlin Mine which lies in San Marcos.
In addition, Ramazzini also opposes free trade deals like CAFTA and the FTAA, and has testified before U.S. Congress.
"We must all look at trade policies from the bottom up—from their impact on the lives and dignity of poor families and vulnerable workers across the hemisphere," said Ramazzini.
As president, he will be the link with the Vatican as well as Church delegate to the government and Guatemalan society.