Monsignor José Domingo Ulloa, Metropolitan Archbishop of Panama, told local media that the Regional Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the case on Wednesday.

The 79-year-old priest left last Tuesday at 14:00 hours, local time, and since then his whereabouts is unknown, it was reported.

“We are all waiting, very worried,” the president of the Panamanian Episcopal Conference (CEP), Monsignor Rafael Valdivieso, said in this regard. The prelate noted that the priests of the Diocese of David were the ones who reported the disappearance of the cardinal and that they are disconcerted by the situation.

On the subject, Panama’s Attorney General Javier Caraballo pointed out that several interviews have already been done and “a group of prosecutors” has been set up and they are on their way to Chiriqui to help in the investigation.

“We are facing a delicate case, where the life of a person is in danger. What we can confirm up to this moment is that we have an ongoing investigation,” he remarked.

Lacunza, who will be 80 years old on February 24, was proclaimed cardinal by Pope Francis on February 14, 2015. There are 242 cardinals from 90 countries in the world. Lacunza is the only one from Panama.

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