Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - The Archbishop of Villavicencio and Vice President of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, His Exc. Mgr. Oscar Urbina Ortega described the news of the meeting in Cuba between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon and the top commander of FARC guerrillas, Rodrigo Londoño Echeverri as "satisfactory". The meeting was held yesterday, attended by the President of Cuba, Raul Castro, during which the landmark agreement on the peace process was announced, divided in 9 points, with the 'commitment to speed up the process.
The note of the Colombian Episcopal Conference issued just before the meeting, also sent to Fides, reads: "War was a terrible experience we had, I think this meeting will allow us to pursue our objective which is that of peace".
"The Pope said that peace must be built within the legal, national and international system, therefore both sides should also consider this recommendation and seek what all Colombians want, that is to say the path of reconciliation", is what is written in the text signed by Mgr. Urbina Ortega on behalf of the Episcopate.
The Archbishop noted that the reconstruction of peace in Colombia will be a long process, because the war has been going on for more than 50 years, and trust is important in these processes which must exist between the parties. Finally, it highlights that the Church will continue to accompany the victims of the conflict in all the regions of the country. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 24/09/2015)
