The Episcopal Conference of Latin America (CELEAM) invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit Colombia in 2013.
According to Caracol Radio, the invitation was extended at an October 7 meeting at the Vatican between members of the CELEAM presidency and the Pope.
“After speaking with the Holy Father on the agenda for World Youth Day in Brazil, we told him that we would like him to take advantage of the trip to Latin America by visiting some countries in the area,” said Archbishop Carlos Aguiar, the CELAM president. The conference proposed Colombia and Mexico for a papal visit.
The Pope declined to commit, but told conference leaders he would take the invitation “into account.”
Members of the CELEAM presidency, including Aguiar and two vice presidents, were visiting the Vatican to formally present the Pope with the Global Plan, the conference’s proposed agenda for the upcoming term.