Yesterday, Wednesday, Pope Francis received the members of the Working Group for Colombia, which is holding a meeting in Rome until June 14, and encouraged them to continue their efforts to achieve peace in this South American country.
The Working Group for Colombia (GTC) is an initiative with 32 years of existence and made up of Cáritas Colombiana, Cáritas Norway, Cáritas Germany, Secours Catholique, CAFOD, Cáritas Española, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) and Catholic Relief Services.
Cáritas Colombiana explains on its website that the objective of the GTC is “to position critical issues of the Colombian reality on the international agenda and strengthen collaborative efforts.”
Thus, it indicates that in yesterday’s audience, the Holy Father “urged them to persevere in the efforts to achieve peace in Colombia, describing the nation as ‘a noble country, which has suffered a lot, which has tried to overcome, to find peace, in a territory where sometimes the drug industry prevails and creates war.”
In that sense, Pope Francis has highlighted the work of the Colombian prelates, because “they are working very well to bring a message of hope and the Church must support those pastor bishops dedicated to the people.”
For his part, the president of the Cáritas Colombian Social Pastoral Commission, Mons. Juan Carlos Barreto thanked the Pontiff for his actions in favour of peace and reconciliation in Colombia.
“The Church in Colombia recognizes and values your messages, proposals and efforts to achieve a reconciled and peaceful humanity. We express special gratitude to you for your constant solidarity and prayer in favour of our homeland,” said Bishop Barreto.
Cáritas Colombiana reported that the GTC will also meet in Rome with the Dicastery of Integral Human Development, Cáritas Italiana, Cáritas Internationalis, the FAO and the community of San Egidio, to address issues such as “the care of the Common Home, the construction of the peace, human mobility and the work of the Catholic Church in the face of COP 16” that will take place from October 21 to November 1 in Cali.
“The words of Pope Francis, together with the reflections of the ecclesiastical leaders and experts involved, underline the urgency of concerted action to achieve peace and justice in Colombia, addressing current challenges with a perspective of solidarity, spirituality and international collaboration,”says Cáritas Colombiana.