Bogota (Fides Service) - Bishop Jorge Jimenez of Zipaquira, Colombia, taken hostage by FARC rebels on 11 November and released by police and army forces on 15 November, spoke to Fides Service about his ordeal and his determination to continue to teach hope to this suffering people. Here is the interview.
"First of all I would like to voice warmest thanks to the many people who showed solidarity to me during the time I was kept hostage. Secondly I would like to tell everyone that our country, Colombia, faces major problems in every sense. We have social problems such as poverty which are very serious. But the worst problem of all is violence, which is connected to the others. The phenomenon of violence has had serious consequences for the country. There are various forms of violence but I would speak here about the violence of which I myself was a victim. I was kidnapped and held hostage for four or five days: a situation which offends any human person. This is clear to all Colombians and to all Colombia's believers. No one has the right to take away another person's freedom, no one has the right even to lay hands on another person, whatever the circumstances, whatever the reason. What happened to me has happened to many other Colombians, thousands of them, to many other people. The fact that I was liberated by the police and army forces is a sign of hope for our country: that the day will come when all kidnapping will stop. This is my ardent hope at this time.
"My faith in Jesus Christ gives me certainty that good will triumph evil, that life will conquer death, because this victory has already been won by Christ our Lord. This is the faith I want to proclaim everywhere, to all men and women. I think it is of great help for everyone to be reassured that we may be confident knowing that we are in the hands of God our Father. Nevertheless each one of us must work to build a new country, a country where every citizen can play an active part, and where solutions will be found for all our problems".
"What has this experience given me? It helped me to realise more clearly that as a Bishop I have the duty: that duty is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to announce a message of peace, encouragement, hope to the many, many people who suffer and especially those in mortal danger…I think this is the task of the Bishop: to be close to his communities, to sustain and help them, to give them hope. I believe my duty is this and I trust that the Lord will enable me to fulfil it". MR (Fides Service 20/11/2002)