Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Fides Service) - The 2nd National Reconciliation Congress closed on May 7 in Bogotà (Colombia). The congress, organised by the Colombian Bishops Conference through the National office for social pastoral, was to mark the 40th anniversary of the Pacem in Terris encyclical by Blessed Pope John XXIII. Its objective was to help bishops, parish priests, religious and people of good work for reconciliation as a path towards peace with social justice and a new, more human and fraternal society.
On Friday 5 May Archbishop Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council Justice and Peace, opened the congress attended by about 500 people from all over Colombia. Other speakers included Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sàenz, President of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference; Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro of Tunja; Bishop Jaime Prieto Amaya of Barrancabermeja; the Defender of the People Eduardo Cifuentes.
For years now Colombia has lived a serious social conflict. Last year at least 3,000 people were kidnapped: 70% of the kidnappings were attributed to the FARC the oldest rebel movement on the continent with about 17,000 members, according to Zenit news agency. During the Congress for reconciliation participants received the tragic news of the assassination of the governor of Antiochia, Guillermo Gaviria Correa, his Consigliere for peace and the former defence minister Gilberto Echeverri Mejia, and eight soldiers taken hostage and killed during an unsuccessful attempt to liberate the group. The participants voiced firm condemnation calling with insistence on the sides to consider with seriousness and discernment the present situation of the nation. Pope John Paul II has sent a message expressing once again condemnation of acts of terrorism and transmitting his sympathy to the families of the victims encouraging the people of Colombia to continue its path to long awaited peace”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 7/5/2003; lines 28 - words 370)
