José Antonio Kast was elected as Chile’s new president on Sunday, December 14th. Married to María Pía Adriasola, he is the father of nine children and a member of the Schoenstatt Family Institute. According to data from the Chilean Electoral Service (Servel), Kast obtained 58% of the votes.
The new president is 59 years old and is the leader of the Republican Party. Although the election period in Chile was characterized by significant polarization and confrontation of ideas, in his first speech the new president adopted a conciliatory tone: “Help me so that in these four years we can do good. Just as we have maintained our unity, I ask you for this additional sacrifice of continuing to accompany me in the Presidency of the Republic.”
Speaking of the opposition candidate, he asked for respect: “I want to ask you for something very special. I would like to request a moment of profound respect and silence. A government has supporters and opponents. That is normal. […] Respect and silence will mark our administration. We may have differences, and harsh ones, we may believe in very different things for our society, but if we condone violence, if we condone exaggerated shouting, it will be very difficult for us to move forward.”
“Unity does not mean thinking alike or keeping our ideas to ourselves; it means having a common purpose.”
Brother of Bárbara Kast
José Antonio is the younger brother of Bárbara Kast Rist. She died at 18 in 1968 and was a member of the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth, now part of the circle of personalities who continue to inspire the Schoenstatt Family.
Let us pray for the new government
The Schoenstatt Movement, like the Church, does not endorse any political party or candidate, but encourages all lay people to be active, as salt of the earth and light of the world.
The Schoenstatt Movement, like the Church, does not endorse any political party or candidate, but encourages all lay people to be active, as salt of the earth and light of the world.
