Colombia's Bishops urge citizens to vote in elections

By Deborah Castellano lubov

The Catholic Bishops of Colombia are urging the nation's citizens to vote in the upcoming presidential elections.

According to Fides, as the Latin American country approaches the 19 June elections, the nation's Bishops continue to invite all Colombians "to participate actively and consciously in the elections, to strengthen the democratic system and contribute to the construction of a better country."

In the second round of voting for the president, the leader of the left, Gustavo Petro, will face the independent, Rodolfo Hernández.

On 29 May, in the first round, Petro obtained 40.33% of the vote, and Hernández, 28.14%.

Three criteria when voting

Ahead of the election, Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, the delegate for Church-State relations of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia (CEC), highlighted, in a videomessage, criteria that must not be forgotten" when electing the new president.

Monsignor Henao Gaviria underscored that all must be done to strengthen the democracy, making it "more alive, more participatory, inclusive, truly expressing the values of civilization and citizenship."

Urging citizens to remember the common good, "thinking according to the good of the nation," he said to take into account the proposals and policies the candidates are likely to pursue.

Strengthen democracy

Monsignor Henao Gaviria warned against using hateful or discriminating language, in politics at all languages, "it is contrary to strengthening democracy and causes long-term damage to our nation."

He also reminded that the first round of elections on May 29 took place peacefully, and "with a massive participation of young people, women and all social sectors, who placed all their trust in the different proposals who are at the service of the country."