Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - The leader of the left, Gustavo Petro, will face the independent Rodolfo Hernández, in the second presidential round scheduled in Colombia for June 19. In the first round of the presidential elections, held on May 29, Petro obtained 40.33% of the vote, and Hernández 28.14%.
The Catholic bishops of Colombia have repeatedly invited all Colombians to participate actively and consciously in the elections, to strengthen the democratic system and contribute to the construction of a better country (see Fides, 19/2/2022; 11/5/2022; 21/5/2022). In view of the runoff on June 19, Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, delegate of the Episcopal Conference (CEC) for Church-State relations, released a video-message in which he reiterates "three criteria that must not be forgotten" for the election of the new President of Colombia. In the first place, Monsignor Henao Gaviria highlights the need for everything to focus on strengthening democracy, making it "more alive, more participatory, inclusive, truly expressing the values of civilization and citizenship". The second criterion to take into account is the common good, "thinking according to the good of the nation", so it is necessary to know well the proposals of the 2 candidates for the government program they intend to apply. Finally, Monsignor Henao Gaviria urges that the language used at all levels of politics, from the highest to the lowest, should not be one of "hate, discrimination, stigmatization or lead to violence", since "it is contrary to strengthening democracy and causes long-term damage to our nation". In his video-message, Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria highlights that the first round of elections on May 29 took place "in peace, with a massive participation of young people, women and all social sectors, who placed all their trust in the different proposals who are at the service of the country". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 1/6/2022)
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