By Canadian Press

Colombian church officials: Pope Francis to visit in Sept.

Mar 10, 2017 | 7:15 AM

BOGOTA — Pope Francis will visit Colombia in September as part of a trip to celebrate the South American nation’s steps toward ending five decades of armed conflict.

It will be the first papal visit to the staunchly Roman Catholic country in 31 years.

Vatican envoy Ettore Balestrero made the announcement in Bogota on Friday alongside President Juan Manuel Santos. The trip was simultaneously announced by the Vatican in a brief statement.

The first Latin American pope will arrive in Bogota on Sept. 6 and visit three other cities — Medellin, Cartagena and Villavicencio — before returning to Rome on Sept. 11.

His visit to Medellin will come nearly 50 years after the landmark 1968 meeting by Latin American clergy in the city, where bishops endorsed liberation theology.

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The length and itinerary of the trip as announced marks something of a departure for Francis. Usually when travelling such a long distance, the pope would add on a second country in the region, and limit the time in each country to two to three days.

“It’s rare for the Pope to visit a single country and stay there for four days,” Balestrero said. “That shows the importance Francis attributes to this trip and ultimately Colombia.”

Authorities have been talking about Francis’ intention to travel to Colombia for two years but the trip had been delayed as a peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia dragged on and the Vatican took care to avoid taking sides in the heated political debate that ensued.

With the deal reached last November, and attention turning to the difficult implementation of the accord, Santos said he hoped Francis’ visit would help spur reconciliation among deeply divided Colombians.

“Pope Francis is a builder of bridges, not walls,” said Santos, winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize. “The visit will help Colombians come together as a fairer, more compassionate, more equal country, one that is in peace. The Holy Father is coming to support Colombians in the building of peace.”

Francis’ would be the third papal visit to Colombia after a trip by Pope Paul VI in 1968 and a 10-city marathon by Pope John Paul II in 1986.

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AP Writer Nicole Winfield contributed to this report from Rome.

Joshua Goodman, The Associated Press