Pope prays for end of violence in Colombia, blesses peace negotiator

Published: 2004-02-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II prayed for an end to violence in Colombia and, at the request of President Alvaro Uribe Velez, gave a special blessing to the official representing the government in negotiations with rebel groups. Uribe spent about 10 minutes alone with the pope during a Feb. 12 Vatican audience, then introduced the pope to his wife and 10 government officials. When Luis Carlos Restrepo Ramirez, the Colombian high commissioner for peace, approached the pope, Uribe explained: "He has the difficult task of dialogue with violent groups. He needs a special blessing." The pope asked if Restrepo was trying to dialogue "with the guerrillas." The president responded, "Yes." Pope John Paul then made the sign of the cross over Restrepo, who has been engaged in negotiating cease-fires with the guerrilla and paramilitary groups that have been sowing violence, terror and death in Colombia for more than a decade.

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