Le Pen Makes Electoral Breakthrough in French Elections

NEW YORK TIMES, April 22 — Controversial pro-life French nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen shocked observers by placing second in the first round of France's presidential elections, effectively ending the career of Socialist President Lionel Jospin.

Jospin, who finished third and failed to qualify for the run-off election May 2, announced his retirement from public life after the vote.

Le Pen will face Gaullist candidate Jacques Chirac in the second round, which Chirac is widely expected to win easily. But even if he loses, Le Pen's first-round success marks a new era for his long-marginalized National Front.

Le Pen has gained notoriety through his blunt, provocative public statements, such as minimizing the historical significance of the Holocaust. He has also consistently raised the taboo subject of illegal immigration, principally by Muslims from former French possessions in North Africa. Many such immigrants are unemployed and live in vast government housing projects, where crime is a major problem.

Crime and unemployment were major campaign issues and contributed to Jospin's defeat, the Times reported.

Le Pen has also been attacked by French feminist groups for opposing abortion. Virtually alone among major political parties, the National Front favors restricting abortion, using the slogan “Kill the infant, and you kill France.”

Juan Diego's Canonization Highlights Ethnic Tensions

ASSOCIATED PRESS, April 19 — Pope John Paul II's planned canonization July 30 of Blessed Juan Diego, the visionary of Guadalupe, has exposed underlying ethnic tensions that divide Mexican Catholics.

The Associated Press' Mark Stevenson commented that “the debate over 16th century Indian Juan Diego touches on delicate issues of ethnicity, faith, foreign meddling and respect for Indians, and threatens one of the few things that unifies Mexico: national symbols.”

The Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 and left behind her image, miraculously imprinted on the Indian's “tilma,” which is now preserved in Mexico City's basilica. Before the apparition, most Indians had rejected as a foreign implant the Christian religion the Spanish conquistadors were trying to impose. But when Mary appeared, with olive skin and a claim to be their protectress, the conquered natives embraced Christianity as their own.

Controversy has flared at the basilica gift shop over the skin color given the Virgin and the visionary. Images of the two are now available in several skin tones, from European white to Aztec brown, to suit a variety of customers.

Colombian Guerrillas Release Kidnapped Priest

EFE NEWS SERVICE, April 22 — Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas released Father Carlos Yepes on April 22, one day after he was kidnapped along with Guillermo Gaviria, the governor of the province of Antioquia, and former government minister Gilberto Echeverry.

When he was kidnapped, Father Yepes was accompanying Gaviria and Echeverry at the head of 1,000 peace marchers traveling from the city of Medellin to the municipality of Caicedo. But FARC guerrillas set up a false roadblock, the news service reported, and took the two government officials and the priest hostage.