Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, Archbishop of Bogotá, urged Colombians on November 7 to continue working for the country’s reconciliation during the Mass celebrated at the Primatial Cathedral on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Holocaust of the Palace of Justice. In his homily, the prelate recalled that the 1985 tragedy teaches that violence is always a failure, and prayed for those who lost their lives in the building, according to EWTN News.
The Eucharist concluded a day of tribute that had begun with a ceremony of the High Courts at the Palace of Justice, attended by relatives of the victims. Political and judicial authorities also attended the Mass. «We implore our God and Father to grant eternal peace to those who lost their lives there serving Colombia,» the cardinal said at the beginning of his address.
«The option for violence is always a failure»
Rueda Aparicio asked that the commemoration serve to humbly recognize that «the option for violence is always a failure and always will be.» In his view, only through paths of reconciliation can Colombia move forward, and the country’s unity is built from awareness and the conversion of hearts.
The archbishop added that «only love succeeds in respecting and harmonizing diversities to lead us to the social unity we need.» In this regard, he warned of the walls that prevent dialogue and asked: «How long will we feed the social psychology of Cain against Abel?» He also called for dialogue among those who think differently and to build social friendship.
The events of 1985
On November 6, 1985, an M-19 commando took over the Palace of Justice in Bogotá, seat of the Supreme Court. After more than 28 hours of clashes, the Army regained control of the building. The event left a toll of around one hundred dead, including eleven magistrates, as well as missing persons whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Last year, on the 40th anniversary, the cardinal had already presided over the Mass at the Primatial Cathedral and had called for remembrance to recognize grave mistakes, ask for forgiveness, and embark on a path without violence, according to ACI Prensa.