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Colombia's FARC guerrilla group hopes to meet with Pope Francis during his upcoming visit to Cuba, saying it would have a positive impact on the current peace process taking place on the island.
“It would be something amazing,” said Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia spokesman Ivan Marquez Sunday, as the latest round of peace negotiations come to a close. “Just imagine the impact it would have to get Pope Francis’ support for this major joint effort for all Colombians — to achieve reconciliation after decades of conflict.”
RELATED: The Colombian Peace Process Explained
The pope will be in Cuba September 19 - 22 as part of a larger tour that will then take him to the United States.
Marquez said the rebel group had not yet made a formal request to the Vatican for a meeting, but it is “something we aspire to do.”
The FARC guerrillas and the Colombian government have been engaged in peace negotiations in the neutral territory of Havana, Cuba since November of 2012. The two sides have been working to end the over 50 years of conflict in the country that has killed over 220,000 people and left thousands displaced and disappeared.
Pope Francis has in the past shown his support for the peace dialogues, asking Colombians “not to lose energy or hope” in the face of the difficulties of the peace process. In a letter to Colombian bishops during the Easter Holy Week he also urged Colombians “to continue to work for truth, justice and reparation,” and expressed his solidarity with the many victims of the conflict.
The FARC and the government of Colombia have made major headway in the peace negotiations thus far, including agreements on land reform, tackling drug trafficking, and have agreed to temporarily cease fighting with the FARC calling a unilateral ceasefire and the government agreeing to “de-escalate” aggression.
The next round of peace negotiations are scheduled to begin Aug. 17.
RELATED: Colombia Peace Process Timeline
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