Colombia’s Foreign Minister, Maria Angela Holguin, on Tuesday invited Pope Francis to visit Colombia this year.
Holguin represented Colombia at the Pope’s inaugural mass at the Vatican. After the mass, she spoke with the Pope privately and invited him to visit the country in 2012.
“He asked me how the peace talks were going. I responded that they were going well, that we were very optimistic and that we hope that this year he would visit Colombia and be with the Colombian people in a year,” Holguin said.
According to the foreign minister he replied that if it is possible, he would do it.
The minister said that the simplicity of the ceremony reflected Pope Francis’ essence and described him as warm and well mannered.
Other Colombian representatives that attended the inaugural mass were former President Cesar Gaviria Trujillo, Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez and the former Colombian ambassador to the Vatican, Guillermo Leon Escobar.