Betancourt Meets Pope Benedict

(01 Sept 08 - RV) Pope Benedict met today with former French-Columbian hostage Ingrid Betancourt at the Papal Summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo. The former presidential candidate in Columbia had been held captive by FARC rebels in the country for over 6 years, before Colombian forces rescued her in a daring raid in July.
Betancourt had expressed a desire to meet the Pope to thank him for his prayers during her captivity. Speaking at a press conference after her meeting with Pope Benedict Ingrid Betancourt described 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. She also said it had been a dream come true to meet him...