Bogotá, Colombia, Sep 4, 2017 / 12:44 pm
Two days ahead of his symbolic visit to Colombia, Pope Francis sent a video message to the nation, telling citizens he comes as a pilgrim of hope, and urging them to continue working toward peace and dialogue in the nation.
"I feel honored to visit this land rich in history, culture, faith, and men and women who have worked with determination and perseverance so that it may be a place where harmony and brotherhood reign," the Pope said in Spanish in his video message.
Colombians, he said, have worked so that their land might be a place "where the Gospel is known and loved, where to say brother and sister isn't something strange, but a true treasure to defend and protect."
Above all, especially given the country's turbulent past, the Pope stressed that "the world today needs consultants of peace and dialogue."