Bogotá, Colombia, Feb 4, 2009 / 20:11 pm
After the recent release of five hostages being held by the Marxist rebel group FARC, the president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, traveled to the Cathedral of Our Lady of All Remedies in Riohacha to ask the Mother of God “to help us to have a Colombia that free of terrorism and is prosperous and upright, with social justice.”
According to the Colombian daily El Tiempo, during his visit to Riohacha to promote tourism in the area, Uribe set aside time to visit the cathedral and pray before Our Lady of All Remedies.
Uribe prayed for a Colombia that “obtains the release of the hostages, the elimination of kidnapping, the elimination of violence,” as well as “a Colombia that can defend itself from this economic crisis, that moves forward on a path of overcoming poverty, difficulties, and that Colombians have an upright, firm and prosperous attitude.”
“On this day we totally consecrate to you our lives, our work, our joys and sufferings, triumphs and failures. All that we are and all we have; our entire beings. We want you, as our spiritual Mother, to help us always and protect us from all danger to our souls and bodies. Obtain for us from your Divine Son Jesus Christ the graces and favors we ask of him through your intercession,” the president prayed.
At the conclusion of his prayer, President Uribe promised Our Lady of All Remedies to “strive to be Catholics convinced of our faith and apostles of Jesus Christ in all circumstances. We greet Our Lady of All Remedies with great devotion.”
The recent liberation of five hostages was achieved with the help of the International Red Cross. Nevertheless, on Sunday the FARC detonated a car bomb near a police station in Cali killing three people.
According to El Tiempo, President Uribe said in Riohacha that the humanitarian efforts currently being made would be “carefully” reviewed so that they are not taken advantage of “by those interested in fostering terrorism.”