On October 23, Pope Francis received Marta Lucia Ramirez, Vice-President of Colombia, in the Vatican. According to a note of the Vice-Presidency of the Government of Colombia, during the meeting, they talked about “progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and social dialogue, Colombia’s leadership in gender equity, the protection of migrants and the care of the environment.”
Concord and Peace
“It was very important to visit Pope Francis, to listen to him once again given his love for Colombia, his prayers for our country, his message of concord and peace for Colombians, so that we build bridges of understanding among all of us, and move the country forward with freedom and democracy,” said the Vice-President and Chancellor.
The high official pointed out the steps taken by the Government of President Ivan Duque “to achieve a more equitable and just society, where there is greater equity for women, based on social dialogue and participation in sectors that traditionally excluded” them.
She also referred to the economic growth achieved in 2020-2021, which reduced poverty and unemployment, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive migration from Venezuela, caused by the multi-dimensional crisis in the neighboring country, a population that Colombia has accepted with a fraternal policy such as the Temporal Statute of Protection for Venezuelan Migrants, with a humanist focus, of Human Rights and solidarity.”
Liberation of Sister Gloria
Ramirez thanked the Pope for the Vatican’s efforts and work, together with Italy, France, and Spain, which made possible the liberation of Colombian Sister Gloria Cecilia Alvarez, who was kidnapped by the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and released last October 9, after four years and eight months of captivity in Mali.”
In regard to the environment, Marta Lucia Ramirez pointed out that, “since the beginning of his Pontificate and with what he said in his Encyclical Laudato Si’ of 2015” Pope Francis “assumed leadership in regard to the protection of the planet and climate as a common good, and he alerted about the urgency in the creation of policies to reduce pollutants and develop clean renewable energy sources.”
Finally, they “explored the possibility of an alliance between Colombia and the Vatican for the promotion of regional policies against human trafficking and for the empowerment of women, as well as the achievement of greater gender equity.”
According to the press release, before her private meeting with Pope Francis, the Colombian Chancellor met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and the Secretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, “with whom she addressed strategic subjects of the bilateral agenda.”
The Vice-President was grateful for the “positive messages of the Supreme Pontiff with his appeal to the Colombian people to a serious and constructive dialogue, to find just solutions to the social crisis existing in the country.”
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
