Colombia needs spirit of reconciliation, pope tells bishops

Published: 2004-06-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II said Colombia needs a spirit of reconciliation to resist the "culture of death and violence" caused by 40 years of civil strife. The pope made the remarks in a talk June 17 to a group of Colombian bishops making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican. In their Vatican meetings, required every five years, the bishops gave reports on how pastoral efforts have been affected by the war -- through economic damage, killings of lay Catholics and church leaders, widespread kidnappings and territorial takeovers. The pope said the conflict in Colombia has caused "so many innocent victims and so much pain to families and to society," generating poverty and insecurity across the country. He said his heart goes out especially to the families of the many kidnap victims. He asked the bishops to give priority to peace and reconciliation in their pastoral programs. They need to help build a society based on the solid Christian principles of truth, justice, love and freedom, and to foster a "sense of forgiveness that is born from a sincere desire for reconciliation with God and with others," he said.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .