Cardinal Fernando Chomali calls for political reform in Chile

Cardinal Fernando Chomali, Archbishop of Santiago, has issued a formal letter to Chilean politicians urging them to dignify politics and strengthen democracy. Addressing approximately 150 leaders from various political parties at the Pope Francis Hall of the Archdiocese of Santiago, the Cardinal emphasized that politicians serve as the “face of their people” and must work toward the common good.

Chomali expressed deep concern regarding the significant decline in public trust toward institutions. He noted that when trust weakens, it becomes increasingly difficult for society to cooperate, reach agreements, or recognize the dignity of others. The presentation of the document included diverse political figures, such as Socialist Party President Paulina Vodanovic and Independiente Mayor Agustín Iglesias, signaling an attempt to foster dialogue across different ideologies.

Public sentiment reflects this crisis of confidence, with recent CEP survey data placing political parties at a 6% trust level and Congress at 13%. Observers suggest that Chile requires a new political center capable of thinking beyond traditional boundaries to avoid polarization and rebuild the social fabric.