While the Catholic world is mourning for the death of Pope Francis, it was reported that the Vatican approved the appointment of the former Minister of Defense of Colombia and former head of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (Cicig), Iván Velásquez, as the new ambassador of that country before the Holy See.
This Monday, April 21, the same day of the Pontiff’s death, it was confirmed that the Vatican had granted the approval of Velásquez to assume as Colombian ambassador to the Holy See. The appointment becomes one of the last administrative acts signed by the Pope before his death.
According to international media that cite the RCN FM, Velásquez could take office in the middle of the conclave called to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church.
The publications highlight that the approval granted by the Vatican not only marks a change in the diplomatic representation of Colombia before the Holy See, but also occurs at a time of great relevance to the Catholic Church, which since Monday has the challenge of choosing the new Pope, so Rome will arrive cardinals from all over the world.
Velásquez will replace Alberto Ospina Carreño. The former Defense Minister will assume the diplomatic mission in a significant context for relations between Colombia and the Vatican.
Pronouncement
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, lamented on Monday the death of Pope Francis, whom he considers his “great friend” and “a key spiritual leader” in the search for peace in that country, plunged into decades of armed conflict.
“I was a great friend. I feel something alone (…) Until always: Francisco,” wrote the president in Network X.
Petro accompanied the message with images with Pope Francis, whom he visited in the Vatican in 2022 and 2024.
“We have talked about peace in Colombia, the Catholic Church has been great support in all peace processes (…) that we can build a much deeper step in the abandonment of violence,” says Petro in the video.
The former president and Nobel of Peace Juan Manuel Santos also lamented the death of the Pontiff and recalled his key role in the disarmament and transformation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) into a political party in 2017.
“It helped us greatly throughout the peace process,” Santos said in an interview with the Caracol Radio media.
Francisco even tried, without success, the reconciliation in 2016 between Santos and his predecessor Álvaro Uribe Vélez, when gathering them in the Vatican before the disagreements they maintained on the peace process with a society also polarized in this regard.
The Pope visited Colombia after the signing of the agreement, to accompany the country in “the hard chapter of reconciliation.”
“Today, more than ever, that reconciliation message is necessary,” Santos said.
The agreement significantly reduced violence and disarmed the greatest guerrillas in the continent. But, despite the progress, Colombia now lives the greatest wave of violence since its signature, due to the action of several armed groups.
The Pope died on Monday at age 88, in his apartment in the residence of Santa Marta, in Ciudad del Vaticano, where he lived since his election in 2013. He supported the peace process in Colombia during all its phases.
“To the culture of death, we respond with the culture of life,” said the leader of the Catholic Church in Cartagena de Indias in 2017.
Francisco “perfectly understood his role as a spiritual leader in the great struggle for life,” said Petro.