"We must take the first step" is the theme of the Pope's visit to Colombia, a country devastated by decades of violence that need extinguishing with the help of the Holy Father. The trip comes at a time when the government and FARC have implemented the pact signed last year to end a conflict that has claimed the lives of 220,000 people and displaced more than six million.
Journey Number 20 that the Pontiff has embarked upon is a sign of hope for Colombian society which wants to reconcile and build peace together.
On a 15-kilometer trip between the military base of Catam, Bogotá, and the Apostolic Nuncio, thousands of people greeted him and expressed their joy at having the Pope among them.
On the morning of September 7, the Pope meets with President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, in the house of Nariño, and with the Episcopal Conference; at 4 pm, he will celebrate Mass in the "Parque Simón Bolívar" where approximately 800,000 people are expected to attend, with 32 large screens and a 1,800-square-foot stage, the largest in Bogotá's history.
Salesians in Colombia have played an important role in this peace process by working in conflict areas, by welcoming young people who have fled the guerrilla, and re-inserting them into society again. It is estimated there are still between 8,000 and 14,000 child soldiers in Colombia, and over the past 14 years local Salesians have assisted over 2,300 former child soldiers through the program "Building Dreams."
