Bolivia Elects New Centrist President Rodrigo Paz who Thanked God for the Win - Catholic Bishops are Hopeful
Catholic bishops of Bolivia are hopeful with the election of the central South American country's new president. The mainly Catholic country has a population of approximately 11.4 million as of the latest census in 2024. On October 19, they elected a new president named Rodrigo Paz Pereira, who thanked God publicly after his win. The President-elect of Bolivia is the eldest son of former president Jaime Paz Zamora, he has served as senator for Tarija since 2020. He was born in 1967 (age 58 years), in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and belongs to the conservative Christian Democratic Party. His win in the runoff election brings two decades of the Movement Toward Socialism party rule to an end, it's founder, former President Evo Morales, had disagreements with the Bolivia’s episcopal conference.
According to Statista, Roman Catholic was the most common religion affiliation in Bolivia in 2023. Approximately 65 percent of Bolivian respondents claimed to be of the catholic faith, whereas the second most chosen religion was evangelism, with approximately 12 percent of the people .
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bolivia wrote in a Statement: "New Stage for Bolivia"
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
CEB Press 10/20/2025 The Bolivian Episcopal Conference issues the Communiqué: "New Stage for Bolivia" for the second round of the Presidential Elections in Bolivia, which took place yesterday, Sunday, October 19, where the Bolivian people elected the new President of Bolivia.
"As Bolivians, we experienced a peaceful democratic day yesterday, with strong citizen participation, exercising our right to vote and demonstrating the commitment that unites us as a country, founded on solidarity and peaceful coexistence. This participation expresses everyone's hope: that better days are coming for Bolivia," the Statement states.
The Bolivian Episcopal Conference calls on all political and social actors to calmly accept the results of the electoral process, respecting the sovereign decision of the Bolivian people, and working together for the good of the country. To those who have been elected, we remind you that your mandate must be exercised with ethics, transparency, and a spirit of service, always placing the common good before personal or partisan interests. Do not betray the trust the people have placed in you.
We entrust the present and future of our beloved Bolivia to the protection of God, Lord of life and history, and to the intercession of our Mother, the Virgin Mary. We ask our Creator to shower his blessings upon our homeland and upon our elected authorities, and to inspire all Bolivians to work together for justice, reconciliation, and the progress of the nation.
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bolivia wrote in a Statement: "New Stage for Bolivia"
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
CEB Press 10/20/2025 The Bolivian Episcopal Conference issues the Communiqué: "New Stage for Bolivia" for the second round of the Presidential Elections in Bolivia, which took place yesterday, Sunday, October 19, where the Bolivian people elected the new President of Bolivia.
"As Bolivians, we experienced a peaceful democratic day yesterday, with strong citizen participation, exercising our right to vote and demonstrating the commitment that unites us as a country, founded on solidarity and peaceful coexistence. This participation expresses everyone's hope: that better days are coming for Bolivia," the Statement states.
The Bolivian Episcopal Conference calls on all political and social actors to calmly accept the results of the electoral process, respecting the sovereign decision of the Bolivian people, and working together for the good of the country. To those who have been elected, we remind you that your mandate must be exercised with ethics, transparency, and a spirit of service, always placing the common good before personal or partisan interests. Do not betray the trust the people have placed in you.
We entrust the present and future of our beloved Bolivia to the protection of God, Lord of life and history, and to the intercession of our Mother, the Virgin Mary. We ask our Creator to shower his blessings upon our homeland and upon our elected authorities, and to inspire all Bolivians to work together for justice, reconciliation, and the progress of the nation.
Source: https://ceb.bo/2025/10/comunicado-ceb-nueva-etapa-para-bolivia/
Comments