BETANCOURT TRUSTING OUR LADY FOR END TO CONFLICT

05-09-2008

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 4, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Former hostage Íngrid Betancourt said she is sure that the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe will bring an end to the Colombian conflict and free those held captive by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Betancourt, a dual French-Colombian citizen held hostage in Colombia for more than six years, affirmed this to Vatican Radio and H20news after her meeting with Benedict XVI on Monday.

She affirmed that faith in Christ and devotion to the Virgin Mary are the two pillars in her life after her long ordeal in the Colombian jungles. Betancourt was freed by a daring rescue mission in July.

"Without faith there is no hope, without hope there is no strength, no fortitude to continue fighting," Betancourt said. "Faith is everything; it's what gives meaning to life, especially faith in Christ."

Betancourt reported that she told the Pope she discovered who the Virgin really is through reading the Gospels.

And she affirmed that she trusts fully in the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the resolution of the conflict in her country.
"When I thought of the Virgin, I thought of the Virgin of Guadalupe," and "I always felt she was very close to me," Betancourt said. "I know she is close now and is helping us and will help all those who continue in captivity in Colombia. She will bring them out, you'll see; she will do this miracle for us."
http://www.zenit.org/article-23549?l=english