Pope Francis expresses his closeness to Colombia

Pope Francis said that the situation in Colombia continues with concern, particularly in the Catatumbo region, “where clashes between armed groups have caused many civil victims and more than thirty thousand displaced.”

Since January 15, this area of ​​the department of Norte de Santander suffers again for violence. According to the information, the first fact was the murder of three members of a family, including a six -month -old baby.

The next day, fear reached the municipalities of Theorama and Tarra, where the clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and Disidences of the FARC forced families to take refuge in their homes to avoid being victims of crossfire.

According to the Ombudsmanthere are already more than 36,000 people who have left their homes in the Catatumbo. Most have fled to the municipalities of Cúcuta, Ocaña and Tibú.

Faced with this serious situation, Pope Francis expressed after the prayer of the Angelus his closeness to the Colombian people and also assured their prayers.

Pope Francis concern for the conflict in Sudan

After the Angelus, Pope Francis showed his concern about the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, and that “is causing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with dramatic consequences also in South Sudan.”

“I am close to the populations of both countries and I invite you to fraternity, solidarity, to avoid all kinds of violence no longer to be instrumentalized,” he said.

In this context, he renewed his call to the parties at war in Sudan “to cease hostilities and accept to sit at a negotiating table”, urging the international community “to do everything possible to reach the necessary humanitarian aids to the necessary displaced and help belligerents to find paths soon towards peace. ”

World LEPRA PAINS DAY

Pope Francis also recalled from the window of the apostolic palace of the Vatican that is celebrated today on the world day of Lepra’s patients.

“I encourage all those who work in favor of those affected by this disease to continue their commitment, also helping those who cure to reintegrate into society. Don’t be marginalized! ”He exclaimed.

International Day in Memory of the Holocaust victims

He also pointed out that tomorrow, January 27, the International Day of In Memory of the victims of the Holocaust is commemorated.

Specifically, eighty years of the release of the Auschwitz concentration camp are completed. “The horror of the extermination of millions of Jewish people and other religions that occurred in those years cannot be forgotten or denied,” the Holy Father urged.

Later, he remembered the “brave Hungarian poet Edith Bruck, who lives in Rome”, and who “has suffered all this.” He invited the faithful to listen to her in the Italian television program What time does it dowhere the pontiff appeared last Sunday. “She is a great woman,” he said.

“We also remember so many Christians, including numerous martyrs. I renew my call for everyone to collaborate in eradicating the plague of anti -Semitism, along with all forms of discrimination and religious persecution, ”he said below.

Finally, he asked to build “together a more fraternal, more just world, educating young people to have an open heart to everyone, in the logic of fraternity, forgiveness and peace.”

A special greeting to journalists

The Holy Father greeted the journalists and the communication operators who have lived their jubilee these days, urging them to always be narrators of hope. ”

Finally, a child of Catholic Action, of the parishes and of the Catholic schools of Rome, looked at the window with the Holy Father to call for peace and “silence the weapons.”