Rome, Italy, Apr 16, 2008 / 10:16 am
During his recent visit to England and Wales, Archbishop Ruben Salazar of Barranquilla in Colombia said, “We cannot live in conflict any longer. Our society needs true change.”
According to the SIR news agency, the Colombian archbishop explained that his country has been experiencing “a conflict that has lasted more than 40 years and has caused one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world,” with “more than three million people, almost the entire population of Wales, [who] have to leave their homes and live in poverty” because of the guerrillas and paramilitary groups.
Archbishop Salazar also requested assistance for those affected by the conflict. In response, Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff and other leaders promised their support for a campaign for peace and justice in Colombia.