On the occasion of the 201st anniversary of Bolivia's Independence, the bishops of the country addressed a message to the population inviting them to renew hope and commitment to the common good amid the difficulties facing the nation. Inspired by the words of Saint Paul: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rm 15:13), the prelates express their pastoral closeness to all Bolivians.
At the beginning of the message, the Bolivian Episcopal Conference expresses its gratitude for the history and cultural richness of the country, while assuring its closeness to those living in moments of uncertainty.
"As pastors, we share their joys, but we also walk alongside them in the hours of uncertainty", affirm the bishops, who point out that this date is also an occasion to raise prayer for "the valuable life of the men and women who inhabit this blessed land".
The spiritual closeness of Pope Leo XIV
Los obispos remarcan como un signo de esperanza el mensaje enviado por el Papa León XIV con motivo de la fiesta nacional. A través de una carta dirigida al presidente constitucional del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz Pereira, el Santo Padre expresó sus "más sinceras felicitaciones" a las instituciones del país y a todos los bolivianos.
According to remembers the Episcopal Conference, the Pontiff expressed his best wishes for well-being and prosperity for the nation and raised his prayer so that the Bolivian people can "walk together, more and more, on paths of justice, peace, and authentic solidarity".
For the bishops, this closeness of the Successor of Peter constitutes a confirmation that "we are not alone on the path" and a encouragement to continue building the country from the values of the Gospel.
Three pillars to face the challenges of the country
In light of the message from the Pope, the Bolivian Episcopal Conference proposes three main axes to respond to the national reality: social justice, solidarity, and peace. First, it urges the authorities to direct their decisions towards the common good: "We humbly urge the authorities of the State and the different leaders to make decisions oriented towards the common good, always prioritizing the most vulnerable and unprotected".
Likewise, the bishops emphasize that the crisis can only be overcome through authentic solidarity, inviting all citizens to practice fraternal charity and to share generously the goods and resources they have.
They make a call to strengthen peace and national unity, setting aside the divisions that weaken the country. "Bolivia needs the honest effort and collective action of all its sectors to build bridges of dialogue and understanding", they maintain.
Hope in the midst of the economic crisis
The Bolivian Episcopal Conference dedicates an important part of its message to the difficult economic situation that many families are experiencing. The bishops recognize that the country is going through a time marked by the anguish of daily sustenance, the scarcity, and the lack of opportunities, especially for the youth.
"We cannot close our eyes to the reality that strikes the day-to-day lives of our families", they point out, while expressing their closeness to those suffering the consequences of the crisis and to the parents who struggle every day to bring bread to their homes.
They insist that Christian faith offers a solid foundation to face difficulties. "Christian hope is not a mere human optimism, but the certainty that God walks with His people and does not abandon them", the bishops remind us. Therefore, they encourage not to let material difficulties extinguish hope, but to renew trust in the Lord, "who sustains us and drives us to move forward".
Bolivia under the protection of the Virgin of Copacabana
At the conclusion of their message, the bishops entrust the fate of the country to the protection of Our Lady of Copacabana, patroness of Bolivia, asking her to intercede so that the Bolivian people receive the gifts of wisdom, peace, and reconciliation.
With that spirit of faith, the Bolivian Episcopal Conference wishes all citizens a blessed Day of the Homeland and invokes God's blessing upon the nation.
"May the God of life bless Bolivia today and always", concludes the message.
Mensaje-en-el-201-Aniversario-de-la-Independencia-Nacional.pdf
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