Editing History of Guatemala (section)

==== Concordat of 1854 ====
{{Main|Concordat of 1854}}
The Concordat of 1854 was an international treaty between Carrera and the [[Holy See]], signed in 1852 and ratified in 1854. Through this agreement, Guatemala entrusted the education of its people to the Catholic Church's religious orders, pledged to respect ecclesiastical property and monasteries, imposed mandatory tithing, and allowed bishops to censor publications. In return, Guatemala received dispensations for military personnel, permitted those who had acquired Church property confiscated by the liberals in 1829 to retain it, received taxes generated by Church properties, and retained the right to judge certain clergy crimes under Guatemalan law.{{sfn|Aycinena|1854|pp=2–16}} The concordat, designed by Juan José de Aycinena y Piñol, not only reestablished but also strengthened the Church-State relationship in Guatemala. It remained in effect until the fall of Field Marshal [[Vicente Cerna y Cerna]]'s conservative government.

In 1854, on the initiative of [[Manuel Francisco Pavón Aycinena]], Carrera was declared "supreme and perpetual leader of the nation" for life, with the power to choose his successor. He held this position until his death on 14 April 1865. While he took steps to establish economic prosperity to appease conservative landowners, military challenges—both domestic and in a three-year war with [[Honduras]], El Salvador, and [[Nicaragua]]—dominated his presidency. His rivalry with [[Gerardo Barrios]], President of El Salvador, escalated into open war in 1863.

At [[Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango|Coatepeque]], the Guatemalans suffered a significant defeat, followed by a truce. Honduras allied with El Salvador, while Nicaragua and [[Costa Rica]] sided with Guatemala. Ultimately, the conflict was settled in Carrera's favor, as he besieged and occupied San Salvador and gained control over Honduras and Nicaragua. He remained aligned with the Clerical Party and maintained friendly relations with European governments. Before his death, Carrera nominated his friend and loyal soldier, Army Marshal Vicente Cerna y Cerna, as his successor.