WASHINGTON - Following the Colombian Bishops' Conference statement regarding the cease fire announced in Colombia, Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico, chair of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, extended a message of support and solidarity, July 5. Below is an excerpt of the statement to Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga, president of the Colombian Bishops' Conference:

At this time of hope and encouragement in your beloved country of Colombia, I write to express the solidarity of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) with the Church and people of your nation. The recent Statement concerning the cease-fire, issued by the Colombian Bishops' Conference (CEC), deserves our enthusiastic endorsement. Please be assured of my sincere expressions of support and friendship, extended on behalf of the Committee on International Justice and Peace. We agree with you that only by continuing the hard work of reconciliation and dialogue, including providing for the peaceful elimination of unnecessary weapons and instruments of violence, will peace be secured.

The full letter is available online at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/global-issues/latin-america-caribbean/colombia/letter-of-solidarity-to-colombian-bishops-conference-2016-07-05.cfm.

In addition, Bishop Cantú wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry expressing the hopes of the bishops for continued dialogue and reconciliation in Colombia. The letter to Secretary Kerry is available online at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/global-issues/latin-america-caribbean/colombia/letter-to-secretary-kerry-on-colombia-2016-07-05.cfm.