Pope expresses joy upon hearing news of hostages released in Colombia

Published: 2008-07-03

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI expressed joy upon hearing that hostages held by Colombian rebels had been freed after the Colombian army staged a bloodless military operation. The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said the July 2 liberation of 15 hostages from the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, is also "a sign of hope" for peace in a country that has been plagued by rebel violence for decades. The pope "is happy about this very wonderful news," he said July 2. Colombian soldiers disguised as rebels tricked local FARC commanders into letting the hostages be airlifted in an unmarked helicopter. Among those liberated were three U.S. contractors, who had been held by FARC since 2003. They were flown to Texas July 3. They had been captured when their drug surveillance plane went down in a rebel-held jungle.

Copyright (c) 2008 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .