Pope Francis called on Colombia to reject vengeance and personal interests, while embracing mutual understanding, during a visit to President Juan Manuel Santos.
The leader of the Catholic Church did so on his first full day of activities in the South American country where he will be supporting on ongoing peace process and plea for reconciliation in the war-torn country until Sunday.
Pope Francis
The night of his arrival, the pope had already called for reconciliation in Colombia, which is trying to overcome more than half a century of drug-fueled armed conflict.
Pope Francis arrives in Colombia for 5-day visit
Pope Francis
Following his visit to the presidential palace, the pope went on to lead a service in the capital, the first of multiple set to be held in Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena and Villavicencio.
While trying to reconcile the country politically divided by decades of armed conflict, the church has insisted the visit has mainly religious purposes.