In Colombia, the remains of priest Camilo Torres Restrepo, a legendary guerrilla and pioneer of liberation theology who died in combat sixty years ago, have been identified and solemnly handed over. The government's special unit UBPD concluded a two-year investigative process, allowing the closure of one of the most symbolic chapters of the Colombian armed conflict. The handover ceremony took place in Bogotá in a solemn atmosphere, marking a key moment in the national reconciliation process.

Official identification of remains

The UBPD unit, after a two-year investigation, formally confirmed the identity of Camilo Torres Restrepo, whose remains had been unknown since 1966.

Symbolic date of handover

The remains were handed over to Jesuit Javier Giraldo exactly on the 60th anniversary of the guerrilla's death, giving the event historical significance.

Pioneer of liberation theology

Camilo Torres was a key figure linking Catholicism with revolutionary ideas and is still compared to Ernesto Che Guevara.

After six decades since his tragic death, the remains of Camilo Torres Restrepo, known as the "guerrilla priest," have been officially identified and handed over to the church. This was carried out by the UBPD, the Colombian unit for searching for missing persons, following an investigation lasting over two years. Torres, who was one of the pillars of liberation theology, died in February 1966 during his first battle as a member of the ELN. For years, his burial site remained a closely guarded military secret, building around his figure an aura comparable to the myth of Che Guevara. The internal armed conflict in Colombia, ongoing since the mid-20th century, has claimed hundreds of thousands of victims and led to the disappearance of tens of thousands of people, becoming one of the world's longest ideologically driven conflicts. The handover ceremony took place on Sunday, February 15, 2026, exactly on the anniversary of the clergyman's death. The remains were received by Jesuit Javier Giraldo, who had long sought to clarify Torres's fate. The identification process required complex genetic testing and analysis of historical documents, as confirmed by UBPD director Luz Janeth Forero. The decision to reveal the burial site and identify the remains is interpreted as an important political gesture by the government toward ongoing peace processes. For many Colombians, Torres remains a symbol of the fight for the rights of the poorest, although his decision to take up arms still sparks controversy within the Church. „The process of identifying Camilo Torres's remains lasted over two years and required the involvement of top-class forensic experts.” — Luz Janeth Forero The conclusion of the search for Torres's remains closes a symbolic stage in the work of the Truth Commission and the UBPD. Although the figure of the guerrilla priest divides public opinion, his discovery is a milestone in fulfilling the right of families and communities to know the truth about the deceased. This event coincides with the intensification of government talks with current guerrilla structures. Authorities hope that gestures of this type will help permanently extinguish disputes that have hindered the development of South America for decades. 60 years — the wait for the identification of the clergyman's remains

Mentioned People

  • Camilo Torres Restrepo — Colombian Catholic priest, one of the main thinkers of liberation theology and a member of the ELN guerrilla.
  • Luz Janeth Forero — Director of the Unit for the Search of Persons Presumed Disappeared (UBPD).
  • Javier Giraldo — Jesuit and human rights defender who received Torres's remains.