Leading Colombian prelate meets with government, rebel negotiators

November 09, 2016

At the request of the Colombian government, the president of the bishops’ conference has traveled to Havana to meet with representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) before returning to Bogota to meet with government negotiators.

Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga’s meetings followed a referendum in which Colombian voters narrowly rejected the terms of a peace agreement between the nation’s government and the guerrilla movement.

At a press conference, the prelate called upon FARC to recognize the rejection of the peace agreement as an expression of democracy and upon both parties to incorporate an “explicit horizon of reconciliation” into their new negotiations. The prelate also called for just reparations for victims of the conflict, which began five decades ago.

 

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Further information:

• Iglesia informa sobre reuniones con la FARC-EP y negociadores (CEC)
• Colombian bishops may play a role in government-rebel peace accord (CWN, 11/3)