Pope: Journey to Colombia in the sign of reconciliation

From September 6 to 11 Pope Francis travels to a country emerging from 50 years of civil war. Cardinal Parolin: Reconciliation "is more than just signing a document”. Certainly, it is necessary, even indispensable step, but obviously not enough: there is a journey to make, which begins with the signing of these agreements. "

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - A journey in the name of reconciliation, to mark an important moment in Colombia's history, peace after 50 years of conflict, and to encourage concrete translation of the commitment with the support of the Catholic community. This is the 20th apostolic journey that Pope Francis is preparing to undertake, to a country that was an emblem of the longest civil war in Latin America. "The visit to Colombia - said the Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke - will be pastoral, although more than once it will refer to the theme of peace, but will proclaim the Gospel."

The visit, which will have the significant motto "Let's take the first step", will start in Rome on Wednesday, September 6. Francis will arrive in Bogotá at 4.30 pm Local time on Thursday and is scheduled to have meetings with civil authorities and bishops, and also with the CELAM Governing Committee, the council that brings together the Latin American bishop. In the afternoon, the Pope will celebrate his first Colombian Mass.

The next day, Friday, September 8, will be dedicated to national reconciliation. Francis will go to Villavicencio where he will celebrate Mass and attend the Great Prayer Meeting for National Reconciliation, with a significant stop at the Cross of Reconciliation (pictured). In this regard, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, speaking to Vatican Radio stressed that the reconciliation process is now "in the phase of application, it is not enough to sign a document. Certainly, he added, this a necessary, indispensable step, but obviously it is not enough: there is a journey to make, which begins with the signing of these agreements. And it is a journey that must be done in everyday life and it is a journey that must involve everyone and that must involve above all, the heart and mind. I believe that the task, the fundamental mission of the Church, at this moment, is to promote reconciliation. This is the central point: it seems to me that much is needed, precisely because peace will not be a present in reality, a reality that is alive and effective unless there is a reconciliation within the Colombian people. And of course one of the main tools of this reconciliation is the ability of forgiveness, the ability to give and receive forgiveness. "

The papal visit will continue on Saturday in Medellin, where the Pope will celebrate Mass and meet priests and religious accompanied by their families and will address the theme of Christian vocation and apostolate.

On Sunday, finally, in Cartagena, the theme of human dignity and human rights will be protagonist. Francis, in fact, will bless the first stone of the houses for the homeless and the Talitha Qum Opera and visit the sanctuary house of St. Peter Claver. In the afternoon, after having celebrated the last Mass of this trip, he will depart for Rome, where he will arrive at 12.40 on Monday, September 11.