The Episcopal Conference of Colombia (CEC) created the episcopal service for forgiveness, reconciliation and peace (SERP), an organism to articulate, expand and strengthen its work for the reconciliation and peace of the country.
From his websitethe Episcopper reported that SERP is an initiative of the CEC Presidency Community “as an evolution of the National Conciliation Commission”, which was created in 1995 by Mons. Pedro Rubiano Sáenz in 1995 “to mediate in the armed conflict establishing confidence scenarios for the meeting with various key actors for peace.”
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In the case of SERP, it will have “a renewed approach: work from the regions, with clear pastoral lines, articulated structures, and promoting the participation of civil society.” In addition, he will collect “important experiences such as those that the National Conciliation Commission was advancing for about 30 years.”
It will also collect the experience achieved by the Episcopal Peace Council, which will now be called the Episcopal Peace Commission (CEP).
Supported by the Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church, said the Episcopate, the SERP will also encourage “respect for human rights, international humanitarian law, justice and peaceful coexistence.”
The presidency of the CEC explained that the creation of this new service responds to “the complex, changing and dramatic reality of violence in the country”, which requires focusing the efforts “towards the generation of conditions of possibility that favor the construction of a stable and lasting peace.”
A peace, he emphasized, “that it is born of forgiveness, reconciliation, the promotion of integral human development, respect for international humanitarian law and justice, and be the expression of the events of the kingdom of God in our time.”
To develop its work, the SERP will articulate three levels: the Episcopal Peace Commission, which will define the “lines, visions and pastoral priorities in terms of reconciliation and peace”; the Advisor Group, composed of civil society experts, technicians and academics; and technical assistance, with “specialists in charge of the execution of the initiatives and the link of the components.”
The vice president of the Episcopate, Mons. Gabriel Ángel Villa Vahos, said that “Pope Francis reminded us that we are citizens and shepherds. Everything that affects human dignity and life interests us.”
Eduardo Berdejo
Professional in Social Communication of the National University of San Marcos in Peru, I have more than 20 years of experience in Catholic digital journalism. As part of ACI Press, I have been sent to cover the trips of Pope Francis to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Peru, in addition to the Synod of Sinodality in the Vatican in 2023.