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Church in Colombia thanks God for release of kidnapped father of soccer star Luis Díaz

November 9, 2023 Catholic News Agency 0
Luis Manuel Díaz, father of soccer player Luis Díaz (center), along with Francisco Ceballos, bishop of Riohacha (right), and Monsignor Héctor Henao, delegate for Church-state relations, who formed the humanitarian commission in charge of facilitating Díaz’s release. / Credit: Episcopal Conference of Colombia

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 9, 2023 / 18:00 pm (CNA).

The Colombian Bishops’ Conference thanked God for the release of Luis Manuel Díaz, father of soccer player Luis Díaz, who was held captive for nearly two weeks by the rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN).

“We thank God for the release of Mr. Luis Díaz! Already with him are Francisco Ceballos, bishop of Riohacha, and Monsignor Héctor Henao, delegate for Church-state relations, who formed the humanitarian commission in charge of facilitating his release,” the conference said in a post on X on Nov. 9.

The father of the soccer star, who plays for the English Liverpool team, had been kidnapped along with his wife, Cilenis Marulanda, by the guerrillas in the town of Barrancas, in La Guajira Department. Cilenis Marulanda was released by the kidnappers during the search that the authorities launched upon learning of the abduction.

The Colombian bishops shared two photos showing Díaz’s father accompanied by Henao and Ceballos.

According to Semana magazine, investigations indicate that the kidnapping was planned for at least five months.

The kidnapping ignited controversy especially because it took place during the bilateral cease-fire agreed upon between the government and the guerrillas — which began on Aug. 3 — as part of the talks aimed at reaching a peace agreement.

On Nov. 3, the Colombian Bishops’ Conference issued a statement condemning any kind of kidnapping and called for the release of Luis Manuel Díaz. The bishops offered their willingness to “collaborate in whatever is necessary so that there is not a single human being experiencing the harsh conditions of kidnapping.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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News Briefs

Colombian bishops call for release of kidnapped father of soccer star and all others 

November 9, 2023 Catholic News Agency 0
Liverpool’s Colombian midfielder Luis Diaz controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in Liverpool, northwest England on September 3, 2022. / Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 9, 2023 / 05:44 am (CNA).

The Colombian Bishops’ Conference has called on the outlawed guerilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN) to immediately release Luis Manuel Díaz, the kidnapped father of Colombian soccer star Luis Díaz who plays for England’s Liverpool team.

The Colombian bishops said that the country is experiencing a “serious humanitarian situation” as a result of the actions of paramilitary groups and that they strongly condemn the kidnappings. In addition, the prelates called for “the guiding principle of the value of life and its comprehensive protection to prevail.”

“We join the nation’s outcry for Mr. Luis Manuel Díaz to be released so he can return to his home in safety. We hope that the prompt release announced by the ELN delegate for the peace talks with the government will happen immediately,” the bishops said.

The conference expressed its solidarity and closeness with all the others kidnapped by illegal gangs and with their families. “We accompany them with our sentiments of brotherhood and prayer for their prompt release and we implore the invaluable intercession of the Virgin Mary in this supplication to the Lord,” they said.

Finally, the Colombian bishops placed themselves at the full disposal of the authorities to collaborate in whatever is necessary “so that there is not a single human being experiencing the harsh conditions of kidnapping.” They also recalled the words of Pope Francis during his apostolic trip to the country, where he stated that “the search for peace is always a work in progress, a task that gives no respite.”

Fellow athletes show solidarity with Luis Díaz

Several Colombian soccer players — and others from around the world — have shown their support and closeness to Luis Díaz during the last week.

In particular the message from James Rodríguez, historic captain of the Colombian National Team, stands out who wrote on X: “We are with you @ LuisFDiaz19 in these difficult times. We ask for respect and solidarity… Freedom for your father and all those kidnapped!”

Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, David Ospina, Diogo Jota and Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool coach, also expressed their solidarity. Luis Díaz himself, last Sunday, when scoring a goal against Luton Town, lifted his jersey and revealed another shirt with the message “Freedom for Dad” written on it.

After the game, the Liverpool forward posted a statement on social media in which he appealed to the ELN to release his father:

“Every second, every minute our anguish grows; My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we have him back home,” he wrote.

Luis Manuel Díaz along with his wife Cilenis Marulanda were kidnapped Oct. 28 by ELN. His wife was later released.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Head doctor for Madrid soccer team calls Pope Francis a ‘very stubborn patient’

November 23, 2022 Catholic News Agency 1
Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square, Sept. 28, 2022 / Pablo Esparza / CNA

Rome Newsroom, Nov 23, 2022 / 07:34 am (CNA).

The Vatican has recruited the head doctor of a Madrid soccer team among a team of specialists to help treat Pope Francis’ knee problem.

José María Villalón, a sports medicine specialist and the head doctor of the Atlético de Madrid soccer team, described the pope as a “very stubborn patient” in a radio interview this week.

The doctor said that Pope Francis is “a very nice and very stubborn patient in the sense that there are surgical procedures that he does not want. We have to offer him more conservative treatments so that he will agree to them.”

Speaking in an interview with COPE, the Spanish bishops’ conference radio station, on November 20, Villalón said that the pope’s issue with his knee had affected some of his other joints as well.

“Sometimes it starts with a joint with osteoarthritis and other joints deteriorate because they are overloaded,” he said. “We are trying to make sure that this does not advance and that things get better.”

Villalón said that he was contacted by both the Apostolic Nunciature in Spain and the Spanish bishops’ conference, who “asked a group of specialists if we could help the pope.”

Pope Francis, who turns 86 next month, has alternated between using a wheelchair and a walking cane since May. 

Earlier this month, the pope told journalists that he was in “a lot of pain” on a flight to Bahrain. Pope Francis has previously canceled public appearances and trips due to his knee trouble, including a scheduled trip to Africa in July.

Villalón said that at first he was “nervous” during his first communication with the pope, but that they bonded because “he likes soccer.” 

In particular, the pope expressed his fondness for Atlético de Madrid’s striker, Ángel Correa, an Argentine soccer player who used to play for the San Lorenzo soccer club in Buenos Aires.

Correa recently joined Argentina’s national soccer team at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina suffered a shocking defeat in a game against Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22.

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