To obtain guidance for strengthening the pastoral mission of the Church in Colombia, bishops Mons. Francisco Múnera Correa, Mons. Gabriel Ángel Villa Vahos, and Mons. Germán Medina Acosta—respectively President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Colombian Episcopal Conference (CEC)—visited Rome from February 18 to 24.
By Jaime C. Patias *
During their stay at the Vatican, the bishops held meetings with various dicasteries and bodies of the Roman Curia. An audience with Pope Francis was also scheduled but was not possible due to the Holy Father’s health conditions; he has been hospitalized at the Policlinico Gemelli since February 12.
In an interview with the Communication Office, Mons. Francisco Múnera, IMC, Archbishop of Cartagena, stated: “The Church walking in Colombia is a synodal, missionary, and merciful Church.”
He further emphasized: “We want to be a Church that brings and sows hope, that is not discouraged by pessimistic voices leading us to despair. We aim to be a Church that generates concrete signs of mercy, especially for those in poverty and need, as Pope Francis reminds us in this Jubilee year. We desire to be a missionary Church, a Church that goes out, as proposed by the Centennial Missionary Congress we held in 2024.”
See also the message of Mons. Germán Medina Acosta, Bishop of Engativá
In this Holy Year, Mons. Múnera continued, “in Colombia, we walk as pilgrims of hope, as men and women who embark on a journey, stepping out of themselves to traverse with heart, mind, and feet the roads of the world, the distant frontiers. We are ready to go out to meet others and create spaces of reconciliation, to heal lives and strengthen relationships. We are pilgrims of hope who bring God’s goodness and mercy to all those in greatest need, as the Pope reminds us: the sick, the elderly, migrants, youth, and those in need of a word of encouragement and hope.”
He also noted that the Jubilee is “an opportunity to receive the plenary indulgence and forgiveness of sins through God’s mercy and to establish new relationships with brothers and sisters, and with all of creation.” Being reconciled men and women to bring hope.
Addressing the Consolata Family, he added: “Once again, we thank God for this immense gift of the canonization of our holy Founder. It is a gift the Church has given us and, at the same time, a commitment for all of us to follow the footsteps our Father left us: to walk towards holiness and serve the Church in all its missionary dimension.”
He concluded: “Let us set out to serve in the mission ad gentes, wherever we are; we have a universal and missionary heart. Let us feel this great passion that St. Joseph Allamano gives us from the Sanctuary of the Consolata: Eucharistic love, love for Mary, and passion for the mission.”
* Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Communication Office.
Mons. Gabriel Ángel Villa Vahos, Archbishop of Tunja, provides a summary of the visit.
