From July 28 to August 12, the Prelate of Opus Dei made a pastoral trip to three South American countries, Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad-Tobago. During his stay he met with faithful of the Prelature and with many other people who benefit from the means of formation Opus Dei provides in these countries.

He arrived in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, on July 28, and on the following day lunched with the Apostolic Nuncio, Bishop Beniamino Stella.

On July 30 he was in Cali where he visited Archbishop Isaias Duarte and met with faithful of the Prelature. The largest gathering in Cali took place in the Municipal Theater, where he had a get-together with almost 1500 people. Later in the day, before returning to Bogota, he was honored by the provincial governor.

On Tuesday, July 31, he went to Medellín for two days, where he met with Archbishop Alberto Giraldo, President of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference. On Wednesday, August 1, he had a get-together with more than 5,000 people in the Exposition Palace. He spoke about the reality of the Communion of Saints, pointing out that many people throughout the world were praying for a solution to the conflict in Colombia. In the afternoon he went to Los Alcazares High School, where he received an affectionate welcome from students, teachers and school employees. At the end of his visit he was presented with a copy of a prayer book published on the occasion of the centennial of Blessed Josemaria’s birth

On August 2, back in Bogota, he dedicated the altar of the oratory in the Hontanar Cultural Center. At midday he went to the Cathedral to pray to our Lady of Topo, before meeting with Cardinal Pedro Rubiano. In the afternoon he had a meeting with some faithful and cooperators of the Prelature. Then he went to Los Cerros High School, where he had a lively get-together with young people.

On Friday, the third, he visited the University of La Sabana and had a meeting with the faculty. He reminded them that science and faith not only move in a parallel direction, but are totally intertwined because God does not want anything in our life to be separated from our faith. Later he met with students and blessed an image of Our Lady, Mother of Fairest Love, and had a get-together with university employees. He also visited the University Hospital of Puente del Comun, which specializes in rehabilitating the physically handicapped. In the afternoon he visited with Archbishop Ruben Salazar of Barranquilla. On Saturday, the fourth, he was once more at the Sabana University where he met with Bishop Jorge Enrique Jimenez of Zipaquira, President of CELAM.

That same day, a get-together was held at the university with more than 14,000 people. “Jesus has said that we are all called to sanctity,” he reminded those attending, “because he loves us with his whole being and because he came to earth so that we all might share in his life. It makes me very happy to tell you that Opus Dei’s purpose is to spread throughout the whole world the ideal that each person should be a saint right where he or she is: a housewife, with her family; a manual worker, at his job; a politician or economist..., all are called to holiness.”