Bogotá, Colombia, Aug 6, 2010 / 17:46 pm
The president of the bishops’ conference in Colombia, Archbishop Ruben Salazar, stated this week that the bishops of the country and the Vatican have expressed their willingness to work together to end the South American country’s decades-long civil conflict.
Speaking to reporters, Archbishop Salazar stated that the conflict in Colombia is one of the “most sensitive” issues, but that any talks between the government and the guerillas “would be extremely positive.”
“If it is necessary that the Holy See intervene I don’t think there will be any problem. I was talking to the second in command at the Secretary of State in Rome and there is an intention is to support anything that leads to peace,” the archbishop said.
As soon as the official green light is given by Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos, the Catholic Church would begin to participate in efforts to initiate talks with the FARC.