World Council of Churches -
News Release
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release:
14 October 2009
Chile decorates former WCC general secretary
The Rev. Dr Emilio Castro was decorated today by the government of the Republic of Chile. The honour recognizes his contribution to the defense of human rights in this South American country during the 1980s.
The
Orden de Bernardo O'Higgins
, is Chile's commendation for non-Chilean citizens. It was bestowed on Castro by the Chilean representative to the international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Carlos Portales.
Bernardo O'Higgins, a central figure of Chile's fight for independence in the 19th century, is considered the nation's founding father. Castro, a Methodist pastor from Uruguay, was WCC general secretary between 1984 and 1992.
Additional information:
Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
