Thursday, October 27, 2011

Freed Colombian girl may visit Benedict XVI

Nhora Valentina Munoz, the Colombian girl liberated on Oct.17 after kidnappers held her for 19 days, may visit Pope Benedict XVI to thank him for his prayers.

Munoz revealed the idea while meeting with schoolmates and teachers, reported the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo.

“At times I was afraid, but I always had faith in God and I knew I was going to get out of there safely,” Munoz told the Colombian media.

For his part, Colombia’s ambassador to the Vatican, Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, told the Notimex news agency, “The Pope thanks God for her liberation. He calls on all Colombians to continue to pray for the release of all those kidnapped and for the conversion of those who commit these crimes.”

Colombian’s Minister of Defense, Juan Carlos Pinzon, said the Marxist rebel group FARC “participated in the kidnapping of the girl.

“Communications from the rebels” and additional information “makes us certain of this," he said.