Christian unity was the pillar of the National Meeting of Delegates of Ecumenism, which took place from September 8 to 11 in Cochabamba, Bolivia, with the participation of representatives from different ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the country. The space combined training, prayer, exchange of experiences, and review of the ecumenical task in the communities.
The meeting was inaugurated with a Eucharist presided over by Monsignor Luis Durán, auxiliary bishop of La Paz and head of the Ecumenism Section of the Evangelization Area of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference. During the celebration, the prelate spoke about the value of fraternal dialogue and the unity of the believers as a starting point for pastoral work.
The day brought together delegates from jurisdictions such as La Paz, Potosí, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, the Military Bishopric, the apostolic vicariates of Camiri and Ñuflo de Chávez, the Prelature of Aiquile, and the Diocese of Oruro. The program aimed at articulating local experiences with the orientations of the universal Church and ecumenical organizations.
Training for dialogue
One of the first topics addressed was the role of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity and the application of the Directory for the application of the principles and norms on ecumenism. The Father Manuel Hurtado, president of the San Pablo Faculty of Theology at the Catholic University of Bolivia, presented the nature and trajectory of the Holy See's body and explained some criteria from the Ecumenical Directory of 1993.
Among the aspects addressed were the guidelines for the admission of baptized, mixed marriages, and ecumenical prayer celebrations. The priest also invited the delegates to review the situation of their own commissions, strengthen their teams, and have the support of their bishops.
The training also included an approach to the World Council of Churches and the Latin American Council of Churches, presented by the religious Eileen Briedge FitzGerald, from the Congregation of the Slaves of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The presenter explained the history, structure, and relevance of both bodies for the ecumenical movement. She recalled that the Catholic Church is not an official member of the World Council of Churches or the Latin American Council of Churches, although it maintains spaces for collaboration and participation, especially in theological commissions and as an observer in assemblies.
Unity in diversity
One of the proposals that ran through the sessions was to understand Christian unity as communion in diversity, and not as uniformity. In this sense, the participants reflected on the need to overcome historical barriers between different Christian denominations and build spaces for cooperation, prayer, and dialogue.
The reports presented by the delegations allowed for the sharing of experiences developed during the 2025-2026 term. Among them, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the monthly prayer circles, and various cultural and pastoral initiatives aimed at promoting peace and fraternity.
It was also highlighted that the work of raising awareness and training directed at catechists and pastoral agents, as well as the preparation and distribution of liturgical materials related to unity. The delegates identified, at the same time, the lack of knowledge about ecumenism in some parish spaces as one of the challenges that still need to be faced.
The delegations shared experiences of approaching Bahá’í, Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh, and other spiritual communities, based on shared values such as peace, justice, and mercy. Initiatives developed alongside academic institutions and international organizations in social and community areas were also noted.
Young people, protagonists of unity
The participation of the new generations held a special place in the meeting. The Father Juan Ciro Villafuerte, pastor of Our Lady of La Paz in Tiquipaya, stated that ecumenism requires moving from theoretical reflection to concrete experiences in the communities: “Ecumenical work must be carried out and put into practice, but for this, much training and preparation is still required”.
The priest identified four necessary aspects to advance in this task: ecclesial and priestly maturity, training and education, testimony of the truth in charity, and an appropriate pedagogy to communicate the value of unity to the new generations.
He asked to recognize young people as builders of unity and bridges in society, offering them real spaces for participation and leadership. The proposal was linked to the prayer of Jesus found in the Gospel of John: “That they all may be one” (Jn 17:21).
Identity that opens to encounter
During the second day, Monsignor Luis Durán also invited the delegates to start from a clear Catholic identity before engaging in dialogue with other Christian communities. “It is important to be very sure; first, you must convince yourself and say: ‘I am a Catholic Christian, I am baptized’”, he pointed out during the homily.
The bishop related this identity to a daily experience of the Gospel and to the Christian mandate to love even enemies and do good without expecting a reward. In that line, he recalled that the works of mercy must be done out of love and not from the pursuit of benefits.
For Mons. Durán, the ecumenical path also requires knowing and following the Church's guidelines and working in a coordinated manner for the most needy, making dialogue and fraternity a concrete expression of faith.
Christian Brotherhood
At the conclusion of the sessions, the delegates evaluated the work done and pointed out some challenges for the coming years. Among them are expanding the ecumenical training from school and parish spaces, strengthening youth networks, and better utilizing the media to spread a culture of unity and peace.
They also recognized difficulties related to the lack of openness in some sectors and the particularities of rural and mining contexts. In response, they proposed to keep the spaces for dialogue and cooperation open.
The meeting concluded with the formulation of commitments by jurisdiction, a general evaluation, and the planning of the next national meeting, scheduled for 2027. The experience left as a horizon a task that, for the participants, is not limited to specific activities, and seeks to form communities capable of living the Christian brotherhood amidst diversity.
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