AMERICA/COLOMBIA - The "Cross of Peace" of Aachen goes on pilgrimage to the Colombian dioceses

Saturday, 12 March 2022 peace   prayer   pilgrimages   episcopal conferences  

Bogotà (Agenzia Fides) - During the Plenary Assembly of the Colombian Episcopate held on February 17, the celebrations of 60 years of twinning between the German diocese of Aachen (Aachen) and the Colombian Church were opened. To mark the occasion, Monsignor Helmut Dieser, Bishop of Aachen, sent a copy of Germany's famous "Peace Cross" to each ecclesiastical province of Colombia.
This Cross has a social and historical importance as it is associated with pilgrimages and activities that helped consolidate peace in Aachen, which was threatened by violence and war. There is a strong bond of spiritual communion, evangelization and solidarity between the Churches of Aachen and Colombia, which has been consolidated for 60 years. According to information from the Episcopal Conference sent to Fides, copies of the cross were given by the humanitarian Claudia Witgens and Father Ferney López, Secretary General of the Populorum Progressio Foundation, to the 14 Archbishops of Colombia to be used to promote activities in favor of peace in the ecclesiastical provinces they lead. Within the framework of the visit of the Council of Bishops and other Bishops on a mission of peace and solidarity to the dioceses of Quibdó and Istmina, pilgrimages for peace have therefore begun in some provinces. In the Archdiocese of Popayán, Bishop Omar Alberto Sánchez made a pilgrimage on March 5, from Padilla (Cauca) to the sanctuary of the Niña María de Caloto in the same department, two communities that have been affected by violent events these last days. Likewise, in the Archdiocese of Ibagué, on Sunday March 6, Bishop Orlando Roa presided over the Eucharist and the sending of the Cross of Peace of Aachen, which began its pilgrimage to the parishes from the city to then go to the municipalities, then to the dioceses of the Province. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 12/3/2022)


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