ACI Prensa Staff, Aug 15, 2023 / 16:00 pm
Beginning Aug. 14 and through Sept. 4, a fourth round of peace talks is taking place in Caracas, Venezuela, between the government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the guerrilla commanders of the National Liberation Army (ELN), accompanied by the Catholic Church.
Among the issues that will be addressed, in addition to pacification, are those of agrarian reform and institutional reform in Colombia.
In a Dec. 2, 2022, letter addressed to the participants in the talks, Archbishop Luis José Rueda Aparicio, president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, accepted the Church’s role to accompany the peace process, noting that representing the Church would be Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao “who, with his experience and wisdom, accompanied by our prayers, will be ready to collaborate in whatever is required to consolidate this long-awaited process for the good of our country.”
Thus the Church is not a participant, mediator, or simply an observer but with its presence is ready to assist in any way it can to bring about the desired peace.