Vatican City (Fides Service) - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, has sent a telegramme of solidarity to Colombian Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Saenz, Archbishop of Bogota, after the kidnapping yesterday of Bishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez. Here is the text of the message which was in Spanish.
"Your Eminence, having learned the sad and lacerating news of the kidnapping of Bishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal of Zipaquirà, also President of the Council of Latin American Bishops' Conferences, I wish to voice the closeness and solidarity of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples to the Church in the whole of Latin America, and Colombia in particular, at this moment of trial and persecution. I lift a fervent prayer to Christ the Good Shepherd, Lord of time and history, that he may convert the violent hearts of those who have in their hands the life of Bishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal who has always defended and defends the Gospel values of peace and justice.
Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe, Prefect
Archbishop Robert Sarah, Secretary"
(Fides Service 12/11/2002)