Pope Francis will travel to Colombia in September, the Vatican said Friday, after the pontiff closely followed peace negotiations between the government and FARC rebels.

 

The September 6-11 trip will include stops in the capital Bogota as well as Villavicencio, Medellin and Cartagena, the Church said, adding that a fuller itinerary for the trip will be published shortly.

The visit is at "the invitation of the President of the Republic and the Colombian bishops", a Vatican statement said.

The Argentinian pope has followed Colombia's peace negotiations closely, having brought together President Juan Manuel Santos and his predecessor Alvaro Uribe at the Vatican in December in an unsuccessful bid to persuade them to overcome their differences over a deal with the rebels.

The FARC began disarming last week under a historic peace deal, beginning the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war.

Source: Ahram online