Pope Leo XIV condemns deadly Colombia highway bombing, urges peace as church leaders call for reconciliation after attack kills 20.
Newsroom (01/05/2026 Gaudium Press) Pope Leo XIV has called for an end to violence following a deadly bombing on Colombia’s Pan-American highway that killed 20 people and injured dozens, one of the most severe attacks on civilians in recent years.
Speaking to Spanish-speaking pilgrims during his general audience on April 29, the pope expressed “sorrow and concern” after learning that an explosive device detonated on April 25 in the southwestern province of Cauca. He offered prayers for the victims and urged a collective rejection of violence.
“I express my closeness to the victims and their families and urge everyone to reject all forms of violence and resolutely choose the path of peace,” he said.
One of the Deadliest Recent Attacks
According to the BBC, the bombing ranks among the deadliest attacks against civilians in recent history. Authorities said the attack was ordered by Iván Jacob Idrobo Arredondo, known as “Marlon,” identified as a member of a drug trafficking cartel.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez stated that Idrobo is linked to a cartel led by Iván Mordisco, a former member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). While a peace agreement between the government and FARC was signed in November 2016, some factions rejected the deal and continued armed activities.
Colombia’s decades-long conflict, spanning from 1958 to 2012, resulted in more than 220,000 deaths and left countless people missing or displaced, according to the National Center for Historical Memory.
Ongoing Violence and Government Response
Sánchez described the highway bombing as part of a broader pattern of attacks carried out by the cartel against civilians and military targets, including incidents in Cali. In response, authorities announced a reward of 5 billion pesos for information leading to Idrobo’s capture.
The continued violence underscores lingering instability despite the 2016 peace accord, particularly from dissident groups that splintered from FARC.
Church Leaders Call for Peace and Reconciliation
Shortly after the pope’s remarks, the Colombian bishops’ conference echoed his appeal, emphasizing solidarity with victims and the urgent need to end violence.
The bishops called for a peace rooted in “dialogue, reconciliation, and respect for life,” reflecting growing concern within the Church over renewed insecurity in affected regions.
Local archbishops also issued strong statements. Archbishop Luis Fernando Rodríguez Velásquez of Cali lamented the loss of innocent lives and the climate of fear created by ongoing attacks.
“How much we grieve for the innocent victims who have lost their lives because of these attacks! How much the atmosphere of fear generated by these violent incursions hurts us,” he wrote, urging an end to what he described as “senseless actions.”
Archbishop Omar Alberto Sánchez Cubillos of Popayán similarly condemned “every form of violence that threatens life and human dignity,” calling on leaders to pursue reconciliation and peace.
“May God touch hearts hardened by violence and grant us the grace to build a reconciled land, where life is respected and peace is possible,” he said.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV News
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