by Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
Allende’s election and inauguration caused worldwide suspense, which is understandable. In both Chile and Italy, Marxists are divided into two political parties. One is openly called the Communist Party. The other, which obviously cannot use the same name, is the Socialist Party. However— I emphasize— both the CP and the SP are officially and genuinely Marxist. Therefore, there’s no doubt that Allende, a leading member of the Socialist Party, is a committed communist.
The core of Marx’s methodology is that communist parties must continually work toward achieving the social revolution’s ultimate and most radical goals. This doesn’t mean Marx dismissed the possibility of making compromises or delays along the way. When crossing very unstable ground, moving carefully rather than rushing recklessly can be faster. Therefore, even when authentic Marxists seem to hesitate or compromise, we should not doubt this because they believe it’s the quickest path to fully realizing the revolution.
Under these conditions, Allende’s seeming restraint and gentleness can only mislead those who ignore the core principles of the Marxist method for seizing power.
The same can be said of the vague formulas that the socialist leader has used to outline his program. Avoiding directly stating that he intends to establish a communist system, Allende has spoken vaguely about achieving socialism in Chile. For non-communists, this slight disguise is pointless because, on one hand, the line between socialism and communism is very thin. On the other hand, the word “socialism” that Allende uses can only mean Marxism, since, as we mentioned, he belongs to the officially Marxist Socialist Party.
The same can also be said about the highly questionable “moderation” of the immediate goals Allende has announced. The Chilean Communist Party and Socialist Party have always demanded these as necessary preliminary steps for establishing a communist regime. That said, although Allende does not appear committed to establishing a communist regime right away, that is the direction his initial actions are heading. And these actions will only be moderate and gradual as tactical advantages require.
To illustrate these points, I find it interesting to share a detail from a news report about an interview the newly elected president gave to the editor of the Mexican newspaper Excelsior. In the room of his residence where the interview took place were photos of Fidel Castro, “Che” Guevara, Ho Chi Minh, and Mao Tse-Tung. “Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are,” says the proverb. When asked why those pictures were there, Chile’s new leader replied that he admired those figures. He added that the people in the photos had signed them. With humorous irreverence, Allende then said there was no photo of Jesus Christ alongside those of the communist leaders because Christ had not given him one with his signature.
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As a genuine Marxist, Allende is officially an atheist. The Marxist ministers holding the top positions in his cabinet are also atheists.
How does he perceive the Church? As an untrustworthy, “turncoat” entity that now agrees with doctrines it categorically condemned. Here are his exact words, in an interview with The New York Times.[1]
Q. You are a Freemason. Do you see the Catholic Church as a potential element of opposition to your government?
A. I think you are perfectly aware that the old quarrels between freemasonry and the church have been overcome. What is more important, the Catholic Church has changed fundamentally.
Before, for centuries, the Catholic Church defended the interests of the powerful. Today the church, after John XXIII, has become oriented toward making the Gospels of Christ a reality, at least in some places.
Medellin, and the language they use now is the same that we have used since we were born into political life 30 years ago. At that time we were condemned for such language; today, Catholic Bishops use it.
I believe that the church will not be a factor against the Popular Unity government. On the contrary, they are going to be a factor in our favor, because we are going to try to make a reality out of Christian thought.
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As you can see, Chile’s prospects could hardly be bleaker. As a result, capital is fleeing to other countries, and so are Chileans. In Buenos Aires alone, there are reportedly 50,000 refugees.
Amid all these well-founded concerns, one person remains completely unconcerned, calm, and cheerful. He is Cardinal Silva Henriquez, Archbishop of Santiago.
Cardinal Raul Silva Henríquez
Before the elections, he publicly stated that it was licit for Catholics to vote for Marxist candidates, specifically for Allende.
Shortly after Congress confirmed Allende’s victory, the cardinal hurried to visit the future president, bringing him a Bible as a gift. At that time, he told reporters he wished the Marxist winner success in his administration. He also said he recommended Catholics support the new government, meaning that they cooperate in carrying out the measures the communists promoted as key to establishing their atheistic and radically egalitarian regime.
The cardinal did not stop there. On the day of Allende’s inauguration, he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and sang a “Te Deum” in thanksgiving for the rise of the new government. The atheist president and a large group of Protestant pastors attended the solemn Catholic ceremony.
Everything seemed to end without anyone laughing or crying. The cardinal said Allende had made a “delicate gesture” by agreeing to attend the ceremonies, which meant nothing to him.
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As a man and a Catholic, if I have any right as fundamental as or even more important than the right to live, it is the right to reflect on these facts and to publicly share my opinions about them.
What do I think? First of all, these are a series of major scandals. What happened to all the condemnations of communism by the popes, from Pius IX to Pius XII? How, suddenly and without explanation, were their solemn, serious, and repeated acts dismissed? How can the Chilean Cardinal now offer the infinitely precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in thanksgiving for the victory of a movement that many popes have called satanic, immoral, and subversive as a lawful and auspicious event? Is this not sacrilege? Is it not a sacrilege to sing the “Te Deum” to thank God for this victory of atheism?
If, in the name of mistaken obedience, I were to admit that such acts are not sacrilegious, I would feel that all the laws of logic are worthless and that absurdity has become the only reality. Fortunately, no law of the Holy Church requires me to do so.
A year ago, wouldn’t the reader have believed it impossible for such events to occur in Chile? Of course! Yet, here they are. Do these events seem impossible to the reader in Brazil today? Who can guarantee they won’t happen here sooner or later?
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There’s no need to fear, whine, or protest. The voice of reality is here.
Someone might ask: What is the point of such a bluntly honest article? It aims to persuade readers that the shepherd may hand over the flock to the wolf in these very sad and turbulent times. The flock is not a single person or a small group (which would be immensely sad), but an entire country.
In this case, remaining loyal to the Church and the country means not following the bad shepherd.
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I read in L’Osservatore Romano many years ago about an event that now feels very timely to remember.
Years after the communist regime was established in Russia, a priest was celebrating Holy Mass in a Catholic church filled with faithful.
At the Gospel, the celebrant climbed into the pulpit. He looked pale and unsteady on his feet. He announced that he would convert to communism from that moment on, and for this reason, he would interrupt the Mass, take off his cassock, and leave the Church. He then invited the congregation to do the same, descended the pulpit steps, and disappeared into the sacristy, presumably heading for the back door.
Then, one of the most beautiful events in the history of the Church in our century took place. All the faithful rose and sang the Creed in unison. The bad shepherd had left. They had not. In that locality, the Church continued to live. And with what supernatural vigor!
[1] “Allende Sees Chile Finding Her Own Way to Socialism,” Joseph Novitski, special to The New York Times, Oct. 4, 1970. https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/04/archives/allende-sees-chile-finding-her-own-way-to-socialism-allende-sees.html?login=email&auth=login-email (accessed Oct. 9, 2025).