Bolivian religious leadership and social advocacy

Religious leaders in Bolivia and the surrounding Triple Frontier region have initiated several efforts to address social, spiritual, and humanitarian challenges.

Initially, representatives from Bolivia, Chile, and Peru met in Cochabamba to focus on Christian unity and migrant advocacy. Under the theme ‘Walls that separate, Faith that unites,’ participants addressed rising xenophobia and border restrictions, ultimately signing a pastoral commitment to support vulnerable populations crossing these borders.

Following these regional discussions, religious institutions in Bolivia expanded their focus toward domestic social and economic issues. Bishop Jorge Saldías of Tarija called for national unity to combat unemployment and resource scarcity, urging leaders to prioritize health and work over political confrontation.

Concurrently, interreligious groups including Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, Islamic, and Buddhist representatives convened to promote a ‘Culture of Peace’ at the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. Other ecclesiastical initiatives have focused on a ‘Culture of Care’ to prevent abuse within the Church and providing communal support for families facing illness and economic hardship.

More recently, ecclesiastical gatherings in Cochabamba have expanded to include themes of mission and environmental stewardship. Archbishop Óscar Aparicio presided over a Mass at the San Sebastián Metropolitan Cathedral to mark the Month of Missions, calling for the adoption of Franciscan spirituality to combat violence and environmental degradation. Additionally, in Concepción, theologian Dietmar Müßig led workshops on German-Bolivian brotherhood, emphasizing the need for environmental care by contrasting Western views of nature with the indigenous Bolivian perspective of living beings as ‘subjects of communication’ rather than mere resources.