Pope expresses joy upon hearing news of hostages released in Colombia

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI expressed joy upon hearing that hostages held by Colombian rebels had been freed after the Colombian army staged a bloodless military operation.

The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said the July 2 liberation of 15 hostages from the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, is also "a sign of hope" for peace in a country that has been plagued by rebel violence for decades.

The pope "is happy about this very wonderful news," he said July 2.

Colombian soldiers disguised as rebels tricked local FARC commanders into letting the hostages be airlifted into an unmarked helicopter.

Among those liberated were three U.S. contractors, who had been held by FARC since 2003. They were flown to Texas July 3. They had been captured when their drug surveillance plane went down in rebel-held jungle.

In addition to freeing 11 Colombian soldiers and police -- some of whom had been held for a dozen years -- the military operation liberated former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. The Colombian politician was abducted in 2002 while she was running for president.

Pope Benedict had met with Betancourt's mother in February at the Vatican and repeatedly had called for the release of all those held hostage in Colombia.

"This liberation is also a positive response to those hopes expressed by the pope, the bishops, the church," Father Lombardi said.

The hostage rescue came a day after Pope Benedict launched a July 1 appeal for an end to the violence, kidnappings and extortion plaguing the country.

"I fervently pray to God that these situations which have caused so much suffering end as soon as possible and that a stable and just peace may reign in Colombia in an atmosphere of hope and well-being," he said in a video message to Colombia's bishops.

The video message was recorded at the end of June and broadcast July 1 to Colombian bishops attending the 85th plenary assembly of the Colombian bishops' conference in Bogota, Colombia.

The pope praised the bishops for their efforts in working for peace in Colombia.

FARC, which began four decades ago by defending landless peasants but has become notorious for kidnapping and drug trafficking, has been fighting to overthrow Colombia's elected governments.

The Colombian bishops have acted as intermediaries in talks between the government and the guerrillas, most recently in efforts to free hundreds of hostages, but in recent months the church has been pushed out of its central role. The church also has worked to demobilize smaller paramilitaries in the country responsible for the ongoing conflict.

Colombia's government estimates there are some 700 people still being held hostage by rebels.