Bejarano told journalists that what the Church is doing, "without belonging to any political party, is to support the work the national government, together with the FARC, are doing: building together."
"It's not about demanding the guerrillas demobilize and give in their weapons, but about moving forward together," he said, noting that this type of cooperation is the only way for Colombians to build lasting peace after the country's 52 year conflict.
Since 1964, as many as 260,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in Colombia's civil war.
According to Human Rights Watch, with more than 6.8 million people forcibly displaced due to the conflict, Colombia has the world's second largest population of internally displaced people, with Syria in first place.
In August 2016 a peace accord between the Colombian government and the country's largest rebel group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was finally reached following four years of negotiations in Cuba.
However, the agreement was narrowly rejected in a referendum Oct. 2, with many claiming that it was too lenient on FARC, particularly when it came to kidnapping and drug trafficking.
A revised agreement was signed Nov. 24, and sent to Colombia's Congress for approval, rather than being submitted to a popular vote. The reformed accord was approved Nov. 30, with revised features including the demand that FARC hand over assets to be used for reparations, a 10 year time limit for the transitional justice system, and FARC rebels' providing information about their drug trafficking.
Since the agreement took effect abuses attributed to FARC forces have fallen sharply, according to Human Rights Watch. However, the country's second largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), continues to commit serious abuses against civilians such as kidnapping, murder, forced displacement and child recruitment.
In his comments to journalists, Fr. Bejarano said that despite the unrest, the real Colombia "isn't known in the world."
Describing the country as "beautiful, multi-cultural, with an enormous natural wealth," he said Colombians want peace, but the ability to dialogue and to build a proper "political culture" are still a work in progress. This, he said, is why the popular vote was against the referendum.
Catalina, who was present with Manuel at the new conference, said that for her the days leading up to the referendum were "moments of joy," since in her mind and in the minds of many others with her background it meant that "no more children will be there (with the guerrillas), it's going to be different, we will be able to return to our homes."
Both she and Manuel live in separate camps away from their families, but are able to communicate via cell phones and, in Catalina's case, rare visits.
Although she was sad when the popular vote rejected the referendum, Catalina said she feels a lot of "interior peace," which is the first thing people must work for. If true peace is to be achieved, people have to "think about the other, not only ourselves," she said.
Both she and Manuel are hopeful about the situation, saying it comes down to making a daily commitment to work for peace.
As far as reintegration, Catalina noted that "everyone makes mistakes," and that for certain people, there will always be a hole in their lives that can't be patched up.
"There are many people who hold a grudge for what happened, for the massacres they lived and don't forgive," she said, but added that for the youth who have come through the Don Bosco City, "we have an opportunity."
"There are many who don't want it, but we must give the opportunity despite all these (things)," and must make the most of what they themselves have received.
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.