BISHOPS FROM EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA TRAVEL TO COLOMBIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 13, 2003 (VIS) - A delegation of representatives from the episcopal conferences of Italy, Spain, France, Austria, Switzerland and the United States of America, headed by Archbishop Paul J. Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," is visiting Colombia from May 12 to 19 to deliver a message from the Holy Father.

During their stay, according to a communique made public today, the delegation will meet with representatives from the Episcopal Conference of Colombia as well as with Alvaro Uribe Velez, president of the republic, Michael Fruling, the United Nations representative for human rights in Colombia and representatives of the U. N. High Commissioner for Refugees. On Saturday May 17 there will be a special Eucharistic celebration in Bojaya in memory of the victims of the massacre in the Church of Bella Vista which occurred one year ago.

"The indications of the Holy Father on the building of a civilization of love and above all cooperation among institutions of the State and Church in order to combat injustice, poverty, violence, will comprise," the communique concludes, "the two main themes that the bishops will address in the different meetings."

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