Villavicencio, Colombia, Sep 8, 2017 / 03:46 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis told the Colombian people Friday that while it will be challenging, they must let go the anger caused by years of painful suffering and break the cycle of violence through a process of genuine forgiveness.
“Violence leads to more violence, hatred to more hatred, death to more death. We must break this cycle which seems inescapable,” the Pope said Sept. 8. “This is only possible through forgiveness and reconciliation.”
Pope Francis spoke during a prayer gathering in Villavicencio for national reconciliation as part of his Sept. 6-11 visit to Colombia.
The trip, which marks his third tour of South America since his election, is largely the result of the country’s ongoing peace process between the government and Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
After more than six decades of conflict, a peace deal was finally struck in August 2016, de-escalating a conflict which since 1964 has left some 260,000 people dead and an estimated 7 million displaced.
Archbishop Oscar Urbina Ortega of Villavicencio greeted the Pope, offering his own brief reflection on the need for reconciliation.
In his comments, the archbishop stressed that “you cannot have true conversion of heart that does not also produce social and political resonances. Because of this reconciliation is offered to everyone.”
Reconciliation among the Colombian people “is a process, not only a goal or a perfect state,” Archbishop Urbina said, pointing to the strong desire of Colombians to overcome the pain caused by different forms of violence such as kidnapping, extortion, displacement, forced disappearance, forced recruitment, threats against life, and murders.
These, he said, “have destroyed projects of life from thousands of families and communities,” and it will take time to help so many people rebuild their lives.
“The search and constant effort to listen to each other, forgive each other and to try again will be the basis for generating a culture of fraternity,” Archbishop Urbina said, praying that that God would give them “a fruitful seed so that the tree of forgiveness, justice, reconciliation and peace blooms in this land.”
Pope Francis then listened to four testimonies from victims of the violence, including former FARC fighters and former members of other paramilitary groups.
The first testimony was given by Juan Carlos Murcia Perdomo, who was part of FARC forces for 12 years, and reflected on truth. After being recruited at 16, he lost his left had working with explosives.
He eventually ascended the ranks and was named commander of his own squad. However, Murcia said at the same time he felt used and had a strong sense of nostalgia for home, and little by little understood that violence wasn’t the right path. He left FARC and later launched the “Funddrras Foundation,” which is dedicated to sports in a bid to offer youth an alternative to drugs and violence.
Deisy Sanchez Rey, who at 16 was recruited by her brother to join the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary and drug trafficking group, spoke on justice. She shared her story of how she was eventually arrested and, after two years in prison, wanted to change her life. She began attending Mass and studying psychology, and now offers counseling to victims of drugs and violence.
A third testimony, given by Luz Dary Landazury, the victim of an explosion set off by guerrilla forces, regarded mercy. In addition to nearly losing her left leg and suffering wounds all over her body, Landazury’s 7-month-old daughter also suffered significant injuries to her face.
Despite her anger, Landazury said she eventually understood that hate would only lead to more violence, and so began visiting other victims in order to help them learn to let go of their own anger and move forward with their lives.
The final testimony, focused on peace, was given by Pastora Mira Garcia, whose father was killed by guerrillas when she was just 6-years-old. She also lost her first husband, her daughter, and her son to guerrilla violence.
However, with what she describes as grace and the help of Our Lady, she was able not only to work with other families who had experienced similar losses, but eventually, in different moments, met and cared for both her father’s killer, who was sick and abandoned, and her son’s murderer, who was wounded.
In his address following the testimonies, Pope Francis said he had been looking forward to the encounter “since my arrival in your country.”
“You carry in your hearts and your flesh the signs of the recent, living memory of your people which is marked by tragic events, but also filled with heroic acts, great humanity, and the noble spiritual values of faith and hope,” he said.
Colombia has sadly become “a land watered by the blood of thousands of innocent victims and by the heart-breaking sorrow of their families and friends,” he said, adding that these wounds “hurt us all, because every act of violence committed against a human being is a wound in humanity’s flesh.”
The Pope said he didn’t come to speak, but rather “to be close to you and to see you with my own eyes, to listen to you and to open my heart to your witness of life and faith. And if you will allow me, I wish also to embrace you and weep with you.”
“I would like us to pray together and to forgive one another – I also need to ask forgiveness – so that, together, we can all look and walk forward in faith and hope.”
He pointed to the Crucifix of Bojayá, where on May 2, 2002, 119 civilians, including 45 children, were killed by guerrilla forces in an effort to take the Atrato River region from the AUC. Victims had taken refuge in the town’s church, but were all killed when the militants began launching gas cylinder bombs inside.
Pope Francis noted how the crucifix pulled from the carnage shows a Christ “mutilated and wounded,” with no arms and no body. “But his face remains, with which he looks upon us and loves us.”
To see Christ this way challenges us, he said, and reminds us of the “immense suffering, the many deaths and broken lives, and all the blood spilt in Colombia these past decades.”
“Christ broken and without limbs is for us even more Christ, because he shows us once more that he came to suffer for his people and with his people,” Francis said. “He came to show us that hatred does not have the last word, that love is stronger than death and violence.”
Turning to the testimonies given, the Pope said he was moved when listening to them, because they are stories that speak of pain and suffering, “but also, and above all, they are stories of love and forgiveness that speak to us of life and hope; stories of not letting hatred, vengeance or pain take control of our hearts.”
“Thank you, Lord, for the witness of those who inflicted suffering and who ask for forgiveness; for the witness of those who suffered unjustly and who forgive,” he said, adding that “this is only possible with your help and presence.”
Francis recalled how in her testimony, Mira Garcia had said that she wanted to place her suffering and that of all victims of the conflict at the feet of Christ Crucified, “so that united to his suffering, it may be transformed into blessing and forgiveness so as to break the cycle of violence that has reigned over Colombia.”
“And you, dear Pastora, and so many others like you, have shown us that this is possible,” he said, adding that “with the help of Christ alive in the midst of the community, it is possible to conquer hatred, it is possible to conquer death and it is possible to begin again and usher in a new Colombia.”
Noting how in her testimony Luz Dary shared that the wounds in her heart were deeper and harder to heal than the ones that scarred her body, he acknowledged that this is true, and commended her for realizing that “it is not possible to live with resentment, but only with a love that liberates and builds.”
By going out of herself to help other victims heal and rebuild their lives, Dary found the peace and serenity needed to keep going, he said. And while physical wounds remain, “your spiritual gait is fast and steady, because you think of others and want to help them.”
Turning to Deisy and Juan Carlos, the former FARC and AUC fighters, Pope Francis said their testimony helps one to understand that they, too, are victims.
“In the end, in one way or another, we too are victims, innocent or guilty, but all victims,” he said. “We are all united in this loss of humanity that means violence and death.”
“There is also hope for those who did wrong; all is not lost,” he said, noting that while justice requires that those who do wrong “undergo moral and spiritual renewal,” we must all “make a positive contribution to healing our society that has been wounded by violence.”
Francis recognized that it might be hard to believe change is possible given the sheer amount of suffering and violence perpetrated by those pursuing their own agenda. However, “even when conflicts, violence and feelings of vengeance remain, may we not prevent justice and mercy from embracing Colombia’s painful history,” he said.
“Let us heal that pain and welcome every person who has committed offenses, who admits their failures, is repentant and truly wants to make reparation, thus contributing to the building of a new order where justice and peace shine forth.”
As part of the reconciliation process, “it is also indispensable to come to terms with the truth.” This, he said, “is a great challenge, but a necessary one,” because “truth is an inseparable companion of justice and mercy.”
Both truth and justice are essential in building peace, he said, explaining that each prevents the other from being manipulated and transformed into “instruments of revenge against the weakest.”
Truth, the Pope said, “means telling families torn apart by pain what happened to their missing relatives,” and “confessing what happened to minors recruited by violent people.” It also means “recognizing the pain of women who are victims of violence and abuse.”
Pope Francis closed his address offering his perspective as “a brother and a father,” telling Colombia to “open your heart as the People of God and be reconciled. Fear neither the truth nor justice.”
“Do not be afraid of asking for forgiveness and offering it. Do not resist that reconciliation which allows you to draw near and encounter one another as brothers and sisters, and surmount enmity,” he said.
“Now is the time to heal wounds, to build bridges, to overcome differences. It is time to defuse hatred, to renounce vengeance, and to open yourselves to a coexistence founded on justice, truth, and the creation of a genuine culture of fraternal encounter.”
Francis then led attendees in a prayer for peace to the “Christ of Bojayá,” in “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” a 20th century prayer which is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, and in the Hail Mary. Before departing, the Pope blessed all present.
[…]
So forceps, scalpels and any other abortion tools are the problem?
And 2400 babies were murdered in the womb yesterday, and none of these pious elites thought it necessary to pray for them. How sad.
Nothing surprising here. They’ll back the state that dehumanizes but refuse to take responsibility for the consequences.
I asked the question below in the comment section of the breaking news story on CWR of the shooting in Texas. No one responded.
It’s a serious question. I hope someone can shed light on it.
Schools are soft targets. Every angry, disordered person who seeks to gain maximum attention for his suicide knows that he can do the most horrendous, most newsworthy damage in a school.
This has been the case for decades.
Yet we have not seen our leaders make any serious attempt to make schools less vulnerable to attack.
It wouldn’t take that much. Training a teacher to carry a hidden weapon to be used in emergencies is all it would take. That, or hiring armed security guards to patrol the schools.
Why hasn’t this happened?
I can’t help wondering if it’s because these tragic events further the agenda of the left.
Democratic politicians are the ones who stand in front of microphones in the minutes after these tragedies — before the bodies are even warm sometimes — spouting their prefabricated outrage.
Why haven’t they stopped this terrible carnage? Could it be because dead children will prepare the nation for the eventual disarming of its citizens?
I know how crazy it sounds for me to level this charge, but don’t you ever wonder why we don’t take these simple steps? Think about it.
Democrats advocate abortion, which costs about a million children’s lives each year in America.
Fifteen or twenty more victims every week or two might be viewed as an acceptable toll by totalitarians intending to take over a nation of 330 million people.
If that’s too nutty a possibility for you to consider, I hope you are able to come up with another possible reason for our leaders to tolerate such an unimaginable holocaust.
When these incidents would be fairly simple to prevent.
My understanding is that the Uvalde Scholl had a couple of security guards (think hired hands) whom were wounded. Some public school districts provide training and support for LTC. Truly troubled schools have officers patrolling the halls. Remember that school systems are administered dominated by liberals so schools will alway be soft targets under their guidance. At least locally, our Catholic grade school is far more vulnerable than your public schools given the liberal leanings of our Bishop. The local priest is aware that several parishioners conceal carry to services in defiance of the Bishops guidance. Certainly within Texas we have open carry but obviously not to services as priest could not overlook that
issue given that some poaerishoner would rat out that person. Granted the public schools are yet too vulnerable but the parochial schools and Catholic Churches are far more vulnerable targets, the more liberal the Bishio the more vulnerable.
I’d say you were on to something.
.
The elites no doubt keep their children safe in well guarded schools
It’s not “gun violence,” it’s demonic influence and individuals allowing the Evil One to have free reign over their lives. Whatever happened to holding people accountable for their actions?
Ask yourself this:
All across the country, Democratic politicians have taken police out of schools. Why?
School boards in cities including Minneapolis, Denver, Portland, Milwaukee — all run by Democrats — have canceled contracts with their local police and removed officers from schools.
And, incredibly, in July of 2020, some of Congress’ highest profile Democrats introduced a bill that would prohibit the use of federal funds for police to protect students in schools across the country.
The bill was called the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act, and it was supported by Democrats including Sens. Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith, and Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Jamaal Bowman.
What reason could they possibly have to make children more vulnerable to attack by sick, disordered people who want to be mentioned on CNS News?
Could it be that Democrats have decided that these horrific murders are the price that must be paid to change people’s minds on gun control? So that America’s citizens can be disarmed?
Have they determined that their agenda to correct America’s injustices is worth a dozen or two children’s lives each month or so?
I wouldn’t even imagine such a thing were possible if Democrats weren’t already responsible for the deaths of nearly a hundred million children a year through abortion.
These hideous school killings don’t represent even one percent of that number.
What other reason could Democrats possibly have for leaving innocent children exposed to such obvious, inevitable danger?
Useful fools, Cupich and Flores.
The 90’s decade plus ban on so-called ‘assault’ firearms showed no effect on gun crime per the government’s own figures.
Guns are not the problem! The person pulling the trigger with a compromised heart is the problem. The murderer was well known to the local police with a history of malicious behaviors though he was probably well under below the radar of his local priest. A priest or bishop that choses not to fulfill their responsibilities are a greater threat to the general welfare of society than any weapon.
Brian Church of Catholic Vote asked this question in an email message sent out earlier today:
So what about the most predictable culprit, guns? Ask yourself why it is that left-wing partisans are quick to blame cultural “root causes” and structures of poverty, racism, and inequity when it comes to abortion or gang violence, yet rush to blame inanimate objects when it comes to senseless shootings?
I find it ironic that Cardinal Cupich is calling for scrapping the 2nd Amendment when his Archdiocese, Chicago, has probably the worst gun violence in the US, to the point of being a virtual active war zone, despite (or because of) Chicago having extremely strict gun laws that make it illegal for law abiding citizens to carry firearms even for self defence. Same applies for all the places in the US (Washington DC, Detroit, St Louis) with the worst gun violence.
Here are my thoughts about school security. All windows on the first floor level to be heavy bullet-proof glass, secured by inside locks. All entry doors to be steel with a small bullet proof window. Doors to be automatically LOCKED during class time, only able to be opened from the inside. Security camera at the entry=way door with audio. Anyone wishing to enter the building must show ID to the camera ( which should be monitored) and have an APPOINTMENT to be there. Otherwise they are not to be admitted. Delivery packages must be left on the outside to be collected by school employees later. My two sons attended a small catholic elementary school where funds were tight. They had the security camera and asked for ID if they did not know you, before they buzzed you inside. This was a low cost, low impact solution which at least would keep a stranger or shooter out for some time. The public school one of my kids attended was a revolving door. People were coming and going at all hours and the doors were wide open. High school kids were allowed to leave the building for lunch periods. This situation must be ENDED.All students should be locked into the building for the duration for the school day and anyone who needs admittance must be known and have an appointment. An immediate loud alarm with a trigger button, similar to what they have at bank teller windows, should be by the front door which should be manned by a security person. A metal detector at the entry point might be worth the investment.
We pay billions upon billions to keep Ukrainians safe.
Why not our children?
Answer the question, Democrats.
Again, excellent points, LJ.
These do not seem like impossible or even difficult steps to take.
Why is it always the Democrats who stand in the way of the safety of children? Can they really hate their own country that much?
Guns are not and never have been the problem. Redirecting blame for the free will choices made by sinful human mortals away from the perpetrator toward inanimate objects has no basis in either logic or reality.
In every single school-related mass shooting, the omni-absent persona missing from the life of each and every shooter is a strong, stable father figure. These shooters all come from broken homes and lead solitary lives imbedded in fantasy. There is no more imaginably fertile ground than this for the devl to do his worst. Yes, this is the fault of all of us. There is much that we must collectively answer for as communities and as a nation. Where do we start? I suggest that we begin with prayer, while reflecting upon the honest reality that there is nothing more manly in today’s society than a woman.
We need for women to rediscover what it really means to be a woman, as in the example of our Blessed Mother. And we need for men to become the strong, stable protector-providers that God created them to be.