THE POPE ASKS FOR RELEASE OF KIDNAP VICTIMS IN COLOMBIA

VATICAN CITY, NOV 13, 2002 (VIS) - At the end of this Wednesday's general audience celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope made a new appeal for the release of Bishop Jorge Enrique Jimenez Carvajal and Fr. Desiderio Orjuela who were kidnapped in Colombia on November 11.

"This act, which increases the climate of the abuse of human rights and troubles the civil population as well as the Church, compels me to reject all violence and injury of human dignity, which is never a path to peace. While I fervently ask for the release of all those who have been kidnapped, and that these pastors will be able to once again exercise their service to the People of God, I raise my prayers so that God may grant the much longed-for peace to Colombia."

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