Vatican City, Aug 31, 2016 / 14:39 pm
On Wednesday Pope Francis expressed his pleasure that peace negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC rebels have been finalized, though he declined to send a representative to help select judges for a truth and justice commission.
The Pope "reiterates his support for the goal of attaining the peace and reconciliation of the entire Colombian people, in light of human rights and Christian values, which are at the heart of Latin American culture," stated an Aug. 31 communique from the Vatican Secretary of State.
Pope Francis had declined an Aug. 12 invitation to appoint a representative to the committee in charge of selecting judges for the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, explaining that given "the universal vocation of the Church and the mission of the Successor of Peter as Pastor of the People of God" it would be more appropriate for another party to fulfill this task.
A ceasefire came into effect in Colombia this week as a result of a peace accord reached Aug. 24 between the Colombian government and the country's largest rebel group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), intended to end the country's 52-year conflict.