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Catholic Church in Colombia calls for respecting presidential election results

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

The Colombian Bishops’ Conference called for the will of the people expressed in the results of the June 21 presidential elections, which saw Abelardo de la Espriella emerge as the winner, to be respected and accepted as a sign of peace for the country.

In the final message of their 121st plenary assembly, the bishops noted the “robust and peaceful participation of the Colombian people” in the elections, describing it as a “clear sign of democratic maturity and of appreciation and respect for institutions.”

“We regard respect for and acceptance of the will of the Colombian people, as expressed in the election results, as conditions and signs of peace,” they stated in their message, published on July 9.

The bishops lamented that, following the elections, confrontation and division continue to be fueled by violent words and attitudes.

After calling for a “culture of encounter,” the bishops’ conference urged government leaders to assume “their constitutional responsibility to safeguard and foster unity, the pursuit of the common good in truth and justice, and a national project that includes us all without disregarding what has been built and received as both a legacy and a…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Dragan Milošević

It is good that the bishops clearly said that the will of the people from June 21 must be respected. Violent words after the election only destroy the country, and the Colombian people voted peacefully, that's the most important thing. I hope that the new government will really work for unity and not for further division.

Lenka Nováková

I agree with the bishops that the peaceful way Colombians voted on June 21 is really a sign of maturity. It's a shame about the violent words afterwards, it only divides people. I hope that the new government of Abelardo de la Espriella will really go for unity, as they say.

Pavol Novák

I agree, Lenka, the peaceful course of the elections on June 21 was really encouraging. It's a shame that after them came the harsh words that do not solve anything. I wonder if you think the bishops mainly had the new government in mind when they talked about the common good.

Yes, Paul, I think the bishops mainly had the new government in mind, because they mentioned constitutional responsibility and the common good in truth and justice. It's a shame about the harsh words after the elections, because people voted calmly and respectfully on June 21. What about you, do you believe it will calm down?

Ján Novák

Yes, Lenka, I agree that the emphasis on constitutional responsibility is clearly directed towards the new government. It's a shame that after such a peaceful vote on June 21, those sharp words still appear - in our garden, I can see that even the plants do better when there is peace around. Do you think it would help if the bishops spoke again with a concrete example?