The official image and slogan, "Let us take the first step," of Pope Francis' visit to Colombia was announced on March 10, 2017, and is addressed to all Colombians to reach reconciliation and peace.
The apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Colombia will take place September 6-11, 2017 in the cities of Bogota, Villavicencio, Medellín and Cartagena.
The presentation of the official image and logo was done by Bishop Fabio Suescún Mutis of Castrense and head of the Preparatory Committee for the visit of the Holy Father.
The bishop explained that with this image the Church proposes to Colombians to be missionaries of reconciliation.
"The visit of Pope Francis is a moment of grace and joy to dream of the possibility of transforming our country and take the first step. The Holy Father is a missionary for reconciliation. Their presence will help us to discover that it is possible to re-unite as a nation, to learn to look at us again with eyes of hope and mercy," the prelate said in a press conference.
The Bishops' Conference of Colombia (CEC) explained in an official communiqué that in the image, which has the colors of the Vatican - yellow and white - the Holy Father is presented walking "to take the step and begin to build and dream."
"Because all change begins with the conversion of the heart, every change needs a moment to find us again and it is a moment in our history to discover ourselves as a country," they added.
In that sense, the CEC explained that "taking the first step means recognizing the suffering of others, forgiving those who have hurt us, returning to find ourselves as Colombians, understanding the pain of those who have suffered, healing our hearts, discovering the country that hides behind the mountains and build a country in peace."
Bishop Suescún concluded by saying that "to take the first step is to get closer to Jesus, to meet again with the love of our families, to disarm words with our neighbor and to have compassion with those who have suffered."
