I was kinda surprised to read today how much meeting the Pope meant to Ingrid Betancourt. I didn’t realize many of us Catholics/ex-Catholics still felt any serious emotional connection the Pope, most Catholics I know are lovers of La Virgin and occasionally remember some ancient rule (like eating fish on Friday’s) as way to show a seasonal respect to La Virgin.

I can see Betancourt’s point though, that hearing a trusted voice after being held captive for years has a way of being inspirational.

“It’s hard to explain the psychological effect this has on a prisoner, what it meant to know we hadn’t been forgotten at a time when we thought we didn’t exist,” Betancourt said. “The voice of the Holy Father was like a light.”

Betancourt said she told the pope about her distress for the hundreds of hostages FARC still holds and her concern for Colombia’s future after decades of civil war.

“The pope is pained by the suffering of the prisoners,” she said. “I know his prayers are also dedicated to obtaining the freedom of all the prisoners and peace in my country.”

via/Boston.com