Just days before the carnival celebrations, the Archbishop of Panama, Monsignor José Domingo Ulloa, called for preserving the meaning of these festivities as spaces of joy, encounter, and creativity, as long as they are carried out with tolerance, respect, and dignity.
Monsignor Ulloa extended a special invitation to composers, performers, entertainers, organizers, and authorities to responsibly embrace the power of words and music. He expressed his hope that the carnival would become a space of shared joy, mutual respect, and celebration of life. He highlighted that the Panamanian people are deeply creative, possessing the ability to elevate lyrics and transmit values through healthy wit and constructive criticism, without falling into vulgarity and offense.
“Never, under the pretext of fun, can we allow ourselves to humiliate, ridicule, or dehumanize others,” Ulloa stated.
However, he warned that when fun loses its meaning, it crosses the boundaries of ethics and respect, ceasing to be a true space of happiness. “We view with great concern how, in recent times, some carnival expressions and songs have descended to levels that are not edifying, that offend, and that hurt people.”
In this sense, he maintained that Panamanians can and should aspire to hold carnivals that reflect the best of their traditions, culture, and identity.
