AMERICA/COLOMBIA - The Bishops reiterate the need for dialogue: "factors of rapprochement prevail over those of division or hatred"

Monday, 24 May 2021 episcopal conferences   politics   social situation  

cec

Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishops of Colombia are launching a new appeal to follow the path of dialogue in search of agreements that will lead to overcoming this difficult moment that the country has to face. "We ratify that dialogue is the most appropriate way to recognize what must always be affirmed and respected in society; listen, understand and respond effectively to the requests of those who have resorted to the right of peaceful protest, and build together the reconciliation and peace to which we aspire", reads the statement of the Colombian Bishops' Conference sent to Fides on May, 23. The message is signed by Monsignor Óscar Urbina Ortega, Archbishop of Villavicencio and President of the Bishops' Conference of Colombia (CEC); Monsignor Ricardo Tobón Restrepo, Archbishop of Medellín and Vice President of the CEC; and by Monsignor Elkin Fernando Álvarez Botero, Bishop of Santa Rosa de Osos and Secretary General of the CEC.
The Bishops appreciate the progress that has been made between the government and the National Strike Committee, as well as the results achieved by dialogue at a regional and local level. In the same way, they insist that, despite the differences that may arise between the parties, they persevere in dialogue and peacefully seek consensus for prompt negotiation. "True dialogue is the search for the good by peaceful means, and requires patience and trust; it is the determined will to resort to all possible negotiation formulas, always striving that the factors of rapprochement prevail over those of division or hatred". The Bishops underline the pain and poverty that these hotbeds of violence in the country are leaving behind and express their solidarity and closeness to all the victims of violent acts. Finally, they encourage the entire Catholic community to pray, pleading with God for the wisdom of those who have the power in their hands to reach a prompt negotiation to end this crisis that the nation is currently going through. Pope Francis, for the second time in less than a month, expressed his concern for Colombia and, after yesterday's Regina Coeli prayer, on the solemnity of Pentecost, launched an appeal to pray for the people of the Latin American country : "I I that the beloved Colombian people may be able to welcome the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that, through serious dialogue, they can find just solutions to the many problems that especially the poorest suffer, due to the pandemic". The situation continues to be tense and critical in Colombia: the pandemic does not spare the population, with an average of 500 deaths every day, while the calls to continue the demonstrations continue, the next will be on May 26 and 28. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 24/5/2021)


Share: