(Vatican Radio) The Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia...better known as the FARC, have signed an historic Peace Agreement, finally ending a conflict which started in 1964. Listen to James Blears report The talks, negotiations, rows, frustrations, pride swallowing and practical compromises leading to peace, have taken four long years, in Havana Cuba. People smiled, hugged and silently wept as the Head of the Government Delegation Humberto De La Calle and the FARC`s Chief Negotiator Ivan Marquez, signed for PEACE, shook hands and smiled with relief. A bi-lateral ceasefire since June has held, and at long last the conflict is at and end. The cost in every sense has been ghastly and appalling. Almost quarter of a million people have been killed, many thousands wounded and maimed, millions more permanently displaced.The points which have been thrashed out, ironed out and inked in, point by agonizing p...
(Vatican Radio) The Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia...better known as the FARC, have signed an historic Peace Agreement, finally ending a conflict which started in 1964.
Listen to James Blears report
The talks, negotiations, rows, frustrations, pride swallowing and practical compromises leading to peace, have taken four long years, in Havana Cuba. People smiled, hugged and silently wept as the Head of the Government Delegation Humberto De La Calle and the FARC`s Chief Negotiator Ivan Marquez, signed for PEACE, shook hands and smiled with relief. A bi-lateral ceasefire since June has held, and at long last the conflict is at and end. The cost in every sense has been ghastly and appalling. Almost quarter of a million people have been killed, many thousands wounded and maimed, millions more permanently displaced.
The points which have been thrashed out, ironed out and inked in, point by agonizing point are: Land Reform, Justice for victims of the conflict, Disarmament, Political Participation in the democratic process by the FARC, plus implementation of the entire deal.
To make it binding there will be a nationwide referendum on October 2nd. President Juan Manuel Santos, who`s staked his reputation, career and very life in persisting for peace through thick and thin, is appealing to ALL Colombians to vote for a bright and a stable future.
null / Credit: Peter Hermes Furian via ShutterstockACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on April 19 condemned the kidnapping and murder of a catechist in Burkina Faso, West Africa.In a news brief, ACN informed ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that catechist Edouard Yougbare was kidnapped on Thursday night by "terrorists, and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning."According to other local sources, along with Yougbare, who was a member of Saatenga parish in Fada Gourma, Burkina Faso, more people were kidnapped and murdered."We are heartbroken by the loss of Yougbare. He served his community faithfully and his death is a devastating blow for the people of Saatenga," lamented Spaniard María Lozano, press and public relations director of ACN International."Catechists in Burkina Faso are on the front lines, risking their lives for the good of their people. Just two months ago, ano...
Pope Francis addresses the faithful at his Wednesday general audience on March 27, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Apr 19, 2024 / 10:07 am (CNA).In the latest move in Pope Francis' reform of the Vatican judiciary, the pope issued a new motu proprio on Friday on the retirement age and benefits for cardinal judges and magistrates in the Vatican's court system.The April 19 motu proprio states that Vatican magistrates will retire at the end of the judicial year in which they turn 75 and cardinal judges at the age of 80, unless Pope Francis asks them to remain in office beyond the age limit.Magistrates and judges who wish to resign from office before the retirement age can only do so with the approval of the pope.The pope also has the prerogative to dismiss magistrates unable to fulfill their duties at any time. Upon the termination of their duties, magistrates will retain the rights to assistance and welfare provided to Vatican citizens and employees.The motu proprio, wh...
Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow announced on April 14, 2024, the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017. / Credit: The Helena Kmiec FoundationACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow, Poland, announced the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017.The prelate said that after the preliminary phase began in December 2022, he made the decision to officially open the process for Kmiec after having consulted the Polish Bishops' Conference and receiving the go-ahead from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints."With this edict I call on all those who have any document, letter, or information about the Servant of God, both positive and negative, to send them to the Metropolitan Curia of Krakow before June 30," the archbish...
