AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Solidarity and support of the Bishops of Nueva Pamplona to the communities of Arauca affected by violence

Friday, 18 March 2022 violence paramilitary groups local churches

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Arauca (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Nueva Pamplona visited the diocese of Arauca to express their support and closeness to the Bishop of this jurisdiction, Monsignor Jaime Cristóbal Abril González, to the Church and to the whole community of this territory, affected by violence.
Recently Monsignor Abril González denounced once again the resumption of the armed clash between rebel groups in Arauca, which caused victims and suffering especially in the civilian population, leading to the worsening of the humanitarian and social crisis, with selective killings especially of young people, forced displacements of entire families especially in rural areas, threats to leaders, attacks with explosives, car burnings, among others (see Fides, 18/1/2022). From March 14 to 16, according to the statement of the Colombian Bishops' Conference sent to Fides, Monsignor Jorge Alberto Ossa Soto, Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona, visited the communities of Arauca, as well as Monsignor José Libardo Garcés Monsalve, Bishop of Cúcuta, and Monsignor Israel Bravo Cortés, Bishop of Tibú, spiritually accompanied by Monsignor Luis Gabriel Ramírez Díaz, Bishop of Ocaña, who was unable to attend the meeting due to travel difficulties.
The Bishops traveled through the municipalities of Arauca, Tame, Fortul, Saravena and Arauquita. In the diocesan Marian shrine "La Negrita de la Cordillera, del Piedemonte y la Sabana" they recited the Holy Rosary for peace, they visited various parishes and shelters for migrants managed by the diocesan social pastoral. This pilgrimage was accompanied by the copy of the "Peace Cross" which represents 60 years of brotherhood between the German diocese of Aachen and the Colombian Church (see Fides, 12/3/2022). In this context, the Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona said: "We want, with this sign of the Cross, to express that the Lord continues to bear the pain and suffering of the Araucan people and of Colombia ... the Lord continues to bear our weaknesses, but he calls us to allow ourselves to be reconciled with him and with our brother".
This visit, for Monsignor Jorge Alberto Ossa Soto was a pilgrimage to pray and implore peace in these territories, "not a demonstration, nor a request for agreements, but a commitment, because in the first place peace is a gift from God and secondly, a commitment of the Christian". Monsignor Jaime Cristóbal Abril González, Bishop of the diocese of Arauca, underlined: "It was a very significant, very special visit, one of fraternity, closeness and witness, in unity in faith, in prayer for peace. It was an expression of solidarity with all the people who, in particular, during this year 2022 have had to suffer because of the violence". "May these signs continue to unite us as a reality of the province and continue to push us in our evangelizing work".
Finally, he observed that it is his desire and that of the Araucan people that this gesture of solidarity is an "appeal to violent organizations to cease their actions, respect international humanitarian law, which obviously includes respect for the life and dignity of every person. The appeal is to truly seek ways of reconciliation and peace among all". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 18/3/2022)