Pope Francis arrived to Simón Bolívar park in Bogotá where thousands of people expectantly waited for hours to see the pope, in spite of the rain. He celebrated his first Mass in Colombia there, in an area where not even one more person would have been able to fit.
When the popemobile stopped, a group of children with disabilities offered him this warm welcome and accompanied him to the sacristy.
In his homily, Pope Francis harshly criticized corruption and a thirst for revenge. He explained they are areas of darkness that threaten one's life, and only Jesus can dissipate them.
POPE FRANCIS
“The darkness of injustice and social inequality; the corrupting darkness of personal and group interests that consume in a selfish and uncontrolled way what is destined for the good of all; the darkness of disrespect for human life, which daily destroys the life of many innocents, whose blood cries out to heaven; the darkness of thirst for vengeance and the hatred which stains the hands of those who would right wrongs on their own authority; the darkness of those who become numb to the pain of so many victims.”
During this day in Bogotá, focused on the dignity of human life, the pope especially advocated for the defense of life in all its phases.
POPE FRANCIS
“Especially when it is most fragile and vulnerable: in a mother’s womb, in infancy, in old age, in conditions of incapacity and in situations of social marginalization.”
In addition, he again invited Colombians to rise above petty or particular interests and to join together for a greater purpose.
POPE FRANCIS
“We need to call out to one another, to signal each other, like fishermen, to see each other again as brothers and sisters, companions on the way, partners in this common cause which is the homeland.”
More than a million people accompanied the pope in this ceremony in which he asked that the Colombians' unity to be strong enough to overcome their history of violence and division.
