Colombia's Betancourt Meets With Pope Benedict

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Associated Press
Tuesday, September 2, 2008; Page A12

ROME, Sept. 1 -- Freed French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt hugged Pope Benedict XVI on Monday and told him how she was overcome with emotion when she heard him appeal for her freedom on a radio broadcast during her seven years of captivity in the jungle.

Betancourt, who was rescued by the Colombian military in July from the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, was watery-eyed at a news conference where she described her private meeting with Benedict hours before.

The 46-year-old, seized by guerrillas while campaigning for Colombia's presidency, said Benedict became a direct source of hope when, after a typical day of forced marching through the jungle, she heard him speak on the radio. "As soon as I switched the radio on, I heard the voice of the pope who was saying my name. You cannot imagine what this can mean to a person in my situation, a prisoner, to understand you have not been forgotten."

Although a Catholic, Betancourt said she had never read the Bible -- "a dusty old book" -- before her capture, but then had the time to read it "20,000 times" and now considers it a life guide.