Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - Following a meeting with Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe, Cardinal Pedro Saenz Rubiano, Archbishop of Bogota, declared that “this is a tough and difficult situation, but it shows what the guerilla warfare has been capable of doing in the relations between two brother nations.” Including those present in the encounter were: Bishop Enrique Sarmiento Angulo, of Facatativa; Bishop Héctor Gutiérrez Pabón, of Engativá; Bishop Daniel Caro Borda, of Soacha; and Bishop Olavio López Duque, of Yopal and member of the Bogota Ecclesial Tribunal. According to Cardinal Rubiano, in light of the serious situation, “we must ask God to help us all live in peace.” With this intention, he has asked that on March 7, at 12noon, “we all stand and pray the Our Father for Colombia.”
Bishop Fabio Suescun Mutis, Bishop of the Military Diocese of Colombia, has also joined in praying, along with the 175 chaplains who minister to the Armed Forces, from each military and police unit in the country, “an Our Father for Colombia.” He has also made an appeal to the Bishops of the Military throughout the world, asking that they unite themselves in praying for Colombia on this day. “The Our Father is the prayer we recite when we have a particular need. Therefore we call on all Colombians to unite in praying for a common cause which is peace, unity, fraternal coexistence with our brother countries,” the Bishop announced over the radio of the National Army.
In light of the events that have unfolded, the Presidents of the 22 Episcopal Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean have met in Bogota in order to analyze the conflict. Today, Friday, at 10am local time, they will hold a press conference and will present a joint communique to the public.
In recent moments, the crisis has spread. Nicaragua has announced that it is cutting off diplomatic relations with Bogota, in support of Ecuador. Furthermore, Nicaragua maintains a lawsuit with Colombia in the International Court in the Hague, for the sovereignty of the island San Andres and the surrounding maritime territory. Nicaragua’s joining is a result of the campaign being carried out by the President of Ecuador in Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 7/3/2008; righe 29, parole 369)
