Bishops express pain over killing of more than 30 police officers this year in Colombia

“We want to extend these sentiments to all the families of the police officers who fell in the line of duty,” the conference said.

In the letter, the Colombian prelates renewed their “gratitude for the selfless dedication of all the officers that make up the police force that form an institutional presence in the various regions and territories of our beloved Colombian nation.”

The bishops called on the faithful to participate in the day of prayer promoted by the Diocese for the Military on July 28 “and on Saturday to pray to the Lord of Life for the National Police and for a country at peace and reconciled.”

As part of the day of prayer, the Diocese for the Military offered a Mass at the Religious Center of the National Police in Bogotá.

The Eucharist was offered by the vicar general of the Diocese for the Military, Msgr. Jorge Hincapié, who called on the faithful to honor “the memory of all the heroes of our country” who gave “their lives wanting to build a great country, respected and free.”

During the homily, he asked those present “to place in the hands of the Creator every police officer who during this last month, this year, every year, has given his life on the altar of the country. Young and older police officers who, without measuring the consequences of their choice for God and country, have sacrificed their own lives seeking the good of all our compatriots.”