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.
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Hmmm. https://roddreher.substack.com/p/mexico-rebarbarizes?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=136360&post_id=158730057&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=p4r48&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
When you go to Mexico you see this ceremony performed on tourists in public squares. It’s not considered something sinister nor related to human sacrifice.
The president of Mexico is not a Catholic. Catholics should know better than to associate with non Christian rituals but in Latin America there’s a hazy line between those things.
I’d rather see more concern about organized crime, violence, and the increase of feticides in Mexico.
One problem in Mexico is that the country has made it official an exaltation of the Indigenous People past. But look at what this scholarly article tells us about the Indigenous People in Central America and the Americas in general:
https://www.thepostil.com/author/dario-fernandez-morera/
The demons of the Aztecs are back and this is their fruits! Stand by Christ and His Mother!
The cult of Santa Muerte (Our Lady of Holy Death) is quite popular within the criminal element in Mexico. Santa Muerte is also revered and seen as a saint and protector of the LGBTQ communities in Mexico. This cult has made inroads into the US. But “Diversity is our strength” – right?
Yes, Santa Muerte is really disturbing & as you say, it’s not unique to Mexico. I’ve seen SM candles for sale in several grocery stores & a otherwise respectable looking mother driving a nice SUV with a Santa Muerte decal on the rear window.
Question to all: Do you have evidence that Mexico is a Christian nation?
I have evidence that there are numerous Mexican Christians in the same ways there are numerous US Christians.
So, mrscracker, same question: “Do you consider the US to be a Christian nation at present? Thanks for your considered reply.
I guess my reply would be similar. There are many sincere Christian people in the US. Our nation didn’t begin in the same way Mexico did through the Spanish but I think we were certainly founded from a Judeo Christian world view.
mrscracker: But our country was founded 250 years ago. That doesn’t tell us whether the USA could be considered a Christian country in 2025. Are you saying that you think we are? Does it matter whether or not we are a Christian country?
Absolutely true. By attacking us, her children, they attack the Blessed Mother as our Lady of Guadalupe, since it was she who claimed the Americas for her Son.
Prayers and supplications to our Lady of Guadalupe are powerful in helping all the peoples of the Americas.
Amen.
In Guatemala where I used to lead medical missions, there was a cult practice that was intermingled with the local Catholic faith. The idol’s name was Machemon. Here is how Wikipedia describes the practice:
“Maximón is venerated in the form of an effigy or cult image. Worship varies greatly by location. In Santiago Atitlán, Maximón’s effigy resides in a different household every year. His image is normally only taken out of this house during Holy Week, whereafter it will change households, but is on display year-round due to the popularity of pilgrimages. The effigy has special attendants that stay by the altar year-round, drinking and smoking alongside it. They deliver offerings from the public to the image. Popular offerings include money, tobacco, and moonshine.
In the town of San Andrés Itzapa, there is a large temple to Maximón. Here, offerings such as corn, flowers, and candles are burned in public by shamans for the deity. Pilgrims travel to this temple from all across Latin America.
Guatemalan press has claimed that the worship of Maximón has declined in recent decades, but this is difficult to measure with much certainty”.
I’m certain that some in our current Vatican would approve of this practice of mixing the Catholic faith with other local cultural expressions.
This is all so interesting. I’m new to El Paso TX and my naivety about what I thought it would be like was so far off base I don’t know what to do with my feelings about; screaming in my head isn’t working and I trying to learn to leave it at the foot of the cross, to no avail. I’m not sure why but I idealized the notion of El Paso and New Mexico being a bastion of Catholicism being back stopped by Our Lady of Guadalupe. Instead I found that Satan still reigns; he passed the torch to Margaret Sanger who left her demonic mark on El Paso and New Mexico, which have become voracious purveyors of endorsing and action the slaughtering of the innocents; their target – the family, the cultures and the lives of the next generations. In my humble opinion – I can feel the demonic presence in this area, which is 100% on board with Margaret Sangers goal of destruction of the undesirables in the form of the local cultures, both Mexican /Hispanic and native populations that exist here – they even have cartoonish billboards right across the state line in New Mexico enticing young women and girls from those cultures toward abortion. The local populace en masse seems immune to, and supportive of the killing fields that exist, with few exceptions compared to the population. While Texas is a no abortion strong hold; El Paso County and City elected leaders have openly voted to stand in solidarity with Planned Parenthood as a matter of civic vote, with and without public comment. Elected National representatives are also voracious in their thirst for blood through abortion endorsement, tied the second place issue of maintaining unfettered migration across our southern border. I can’t even begin to expound on the demonic level of support for the mass slaughter that is championed with fanatical “religious” fervor by New Mexico elected officials from the state reps down through the Governor and local officials. It is chilling. As a pro-life supporter and active participant in prolife events in El Paso and New Mexico, the level of evil that hangs in the air is palpable as a stand for life is taken in this area. I’d say it’s not “the people” of El Paso or New Mexico who facilitate this, and have to pinch myself and hold back throwing the BS card on that, when our Lady of Guadalupe is revered yet abortion reigns here through public vote for elected officials whose stated platform objectives are to support and raise abortion and opportunities for the same to a frenetic level. Both can’t legitimately co-exist, and Our Lady seems to be a show piece of days gone by, certainly not by all, but obviously a majority given the voting outcomes, where abortion is the actionable item, second only to unfettered streams of broken humanity across an open border. Second only to abortion is support to unfettered open borders and the cash cow that facilitates, as well as setting the ground work to fundamentally change the electorate and the country. Arguing to the contrary is pointless given the feckless approach to the problem, and the horrendous outcomes leading to servitude and being beholden to a party only focused on power, not true benevolence toward rhe “invited” guests. Generally, the elected politicos and the masses in many cases, demonize those standing for the rule of law and managed immigration, amplified by the Diocese of El Paso’s clear focus on sustaining the migrant flow we’ve experienced while throwing the anti-abortion components of Family Life Ministry scraps from the bone of support, in my observational based opinion. The unfettered migration we’ve experienced is not only inhumane but undignified in itself; despite local civic and religious leaders calling the cessation of that unchecked migration, inhumane and undignified, the lack of moral standing of the argument and the subjugation of the issue that has a clear moral component to a second class issue. If there is unchecked abortion, the immigration issue becomes moot. There would be much less of a problem if the government had not circumvented law and the will of the people. The indignation by the local community leaders, faux outrage by local national representatives and the tale of woe from the Diocese is sad and appears farcical. Migrants streamed into the country with little to no pastoral care, in some cases based on status were fed and clothed as Christ commended by local pastors, but were fed into the mill of voter cultivation and loads of “free chicken” once onward moved into the corners of the country. There was little capacity enroute or while in this city to provided pastoral care, the Sacraments or nurture faith, which was likely lost or challenged when our goverment enticed people to walk across the southern portion of the continent to become unwhiting prey to one political party who offered overcrowding, inhumane conditions, facilitated human trafficking, extortion, rape, molestation, indentured servitude, and a host of other undignified outcomes intentionally or unintentionally; it doesn’t matter – it’s reality and a consequence of their action. I know this from good authority. We also hear about it from honest journalism and media, AND federal agencies trying to manage the nightmare our government created will attest to it, while being immediately vilified. We are at a major cross roads in Mexico and the US; none of it will lead to good; all of it leading away from Mother Mary and Her Son, to increased literal tribalism, rejection of the one true God, rejection of His mother and eventually, I believe, war over pat grievances, perceived utopia existing in the green grass across the road, etc. I pray that is not the case. I lament it will likely be so. God bless Mexico and the US and help us get focused on His will, and that His will be done; not the Devil and his demonic forces which have a strong hold on both countries, overtly and covertly.