On April 26, 1998, the Catholic Church dressed in mourning: Monsignor Juan Gerardi He had been murdered inside the parish house of the San Sebastián church, two days after presenting the report. Guatemala: Never Again. Recovery of Historical Memory (Rehmi). The document denounced atrocities by the Army during the internal armed conflict.
An exhibition is presented at the National Palace of Culture that remembers important moments in his life through images and documents. The priest was born in Guatemala City on December 27, 1922.
She began her studies at the Asilo Santa María educational center, in Guatemala City, with the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. He entered the Conciliar Seminary, on 10th Avenue and 1st Street in Zone 1, where he studied humanities and philosophy. Later he went to New Orleans, in the Notre Dame SeminaryLouisiana, United States, where he completed his Theology studies.
He was ordained a priest on December 21, 1946, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Guatemala City. His participation in the life of the Church in Guatemala was always very active; He was highly appreciated among the clergy and bishops, so that in 1972 he was elected to the position of president of the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala (CEG) for two consecutive periods: 1972-1974 and 1974-1976. Later, he held this position again, from 1980 to 1982, which he resigned due to being in exile.
He also participated in some moments of the peace process that began following the signing of the Esquipulas II Agreements (August 1987) and the formation of the National Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Monsignor Rodolfo Quezada, who was accompanied by Monsignor Juan Gerardi. He was an active manager of many of the most significant documents of the CEG, in favor of justice, human rights and the construction of peace in Guatemala.
Those who always opposed the presence of the Church in the social field accused Monsignor Gerardi of being a political ecclesiastic or similar adjectives. On more than one occasion, “paintings” appeared on the walls of some streets in the city center against Monsignor Gerardi.
Date:
From April 17 to May 11, 2026
Hour:
Monday to Sunday, generally from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place:
Sixth Passage Gallery, National Palace of Culture
Price:
Free admission
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