A bruised Pope calls for Colombian unity
Francis’ visit to Cartagena got off to a rocky start when he bonked his head on his popemobile
Pope Francis wrapped up his Colombia trip on Sunday by honouring a fellow Jesuit who ministered to African slaves and urging Colombians to follow his lead in working for a more peaceful future.
Francis’ visit to Cartagena got off to a rocky start when he bonked his head on his popemobile when it stopped short amid swarms of well-wishers. Francis, who had only a hiphigh bar to hold onto, lost his balance and suffered a bruised, black left eye and a cut on his eyebrow that dripped blood onto his white cassock.
The cut was bandaged with a butterfly patch and Francis carried on without incident with his programme, sporting a shiner that got increasingly dark as the day wore on.
The highlight of the day was a very personal stop for the Jesuit pope: He prayed at the tomb of St Peter Claver, the 17th century missionary who ministered to hundreds of thousands of African slaves who were brought through Cartagena’s port during Spanish colonial times to be sold.
Francis, known for his simple and austere style, said Claver was “austere and charitable to the point of heroism”.
Francis said the legacy of the Spanish priest should serve as a model for the Catholic Church today to “promote the dignity of all our brothers and sisters”.
And he cited Claver’s example
Final appeal
“Be slaves of peace forever,” he said in a final appeal at the end of Mass in Cartagena’s port.
It was a final appeal to Colombians to overcome divisions that linger after the government last year reached a peace deal with leftist rebels hoping to end Latin America’s longestrunning armed rebellion.