The Catholic Church has accepted the invitation of the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, to participate “permanently” in the peace talks with the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and has already sent a delegation to Venezuela, the first stage of the start of negotiations.
“The Episcopal Conference has received the invitation from President Petro to accompany the total peace process, and in particular also this process of dialogue with the ELN. It is a contribution that the Church makes with the Colombian people in mind, in the regions most affected by conflict”, confirmed the delegate of the Church, Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao.
The priest explained that they have decided to accept Casa Narino’s invitation due to the “need” that Colombia has to advance “in the transformations” that the country needs, in “the consolidation of peace”, as well as in “the construction of a reconciled nation, in which there is social justice and possibilities of participation for all sectors”.
In this sense, they have stressed that they are prepared to collaborate in everything that is needed to “consolidate” this “long-awaited” process, according to the letter signed by the Archbishop of Bogota, Luis Jose Rueda, reports Caracol Radio. The delegation will be formed in addition to Monsignor Henao by the Archbishops of Popayan, Omar Alberto Sanchez; and from Cali, Dario de Jesus Monsalve.
A little less than a month ago now, the first formal meeting of these government dialogues with the ELN guerrillas began in Venezuela, one of President Petro’s strong campaign promises, within the framework of what is known as total peace.
In addition to the Catholic Church, political and civil actors of all kinds participate in these processes. In recent days, the United Nations has also confirmed its invitation to accompany the negotiation. Venezuela, Cuba and Norway will be present as guarantor countries, while the United States, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain as companions.
The guerrillas and the Government of Colombia resume the path of dialogue to achieve a peace that had been stagnant since 2018 with the arrival of Ivan Duque to the Colombian Presidency and later abandoned after the attack against a Police school in Bogota in 2019 that left 23 dead and nearly a hundred wounded.
