From June 15 to 19, 2026, representatives of the national Cáritas of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela are meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, within the framework of the Meeting of the Bolivarian Zone towards the XXI Regional Congress of Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean. The event brings together presiding bishops, national directors, delegates and work teams from the five countries, animated by the motto "The love of Christ urges us"and the spirit of synodality that drives the entire Caritas family in this year of its 70th anniversary.

Arrival and opening: a fraternal reunion

On Monday, June 15, the delegations of the five countries were warmly received by Cáritas Bolivia, host of the meeting. In the afternoon, the opening day was marked by the Eucharistic celebration of welcome, in which thanks were given for the 70 years of history of Cáritas in Latin America and the Caribbean, calling on the entire Bolivarian zone to begin the journey with prayer and grateful memory.

The second day began early in the morning with the Eucharist in which the encounter with the Lord was offered. The opening session included welcoming words from Bishop Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, who was present virtually, Janeth Márquez, coordinator of the Bolivarian Zone, Elizabeth Zabala, director of Cáritas Bolivia, and the intervention of Nicolás Meyer, regional coordinator of Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean.

The morning was dedicated to the "See" moment, moderated by Cáritas del Perú. Each national delegation presented urgent realities in their country, contrasting signs of change and hope with the structural challenges of the region. Bolivia, as host country, had ten minutes. The presentations were enriched by two presentations: a zonal view from Bolivia on the Preferential Option for the Poor and Comprehensive Human Development (IHD), and a video message with a geopolitical and global perspective by an advisory consultancy from Caritas Internationalis.

The panorama drawn was demanding: the Bolivarian region faces fragile states, growth of organized crime, institutional distrust, aggressive polarization, energy crisis and the pressure of global powers on its resources. However, signs of hope also emerged strongly: a sector of youth with greater critical thinking, the growth of volunteerism, public recognition of Cáritas' work in risk management and the strengthening of parish networks.

In the afternoon, three presentations on the moment of "Judging" challenged the assembly: Monsignor José Luis Azuaje, vice president of CELAM and president of Cáritas Venezuela, urged to overcome bureaucracy and convert Caritas in a true "field hospital". Father Nelson Ortiz, director of Cáritas Colombiana, stated that love for the poor is a requirement for holiness and that it is the poor who evangelize. Elvy Monzant reflected on advocacy as a constitutive dimension of a prophetic Caritas, called to go beyond being an NGO to be the voice of God and the poor.

The closing of the day Tuesday was the occasion for a historical panel of great emotional and institutional density. Representatives of Cáritas Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador shared the milestones of their respective organizations, most of which were founded between 1956 and 1961. Cáritas Colombia related how it created the first registration system for the displaced population in the country—before the State itself—through the RUT system. Cáritas Venezuela shared how the SAMAN program, created in 2017 to monitor child malnutrition, broke the information silence about the humanitarian crisis. Cáritas Bolivia evoked its historical support for the indigenous march of 1971 and its role in the protection of thousands of Venezuelan refugees in 2017. Cáritas Ecuador presented the legacy of Monsignor Julio Parrilla, who transformed the thought of "doing Cáritas" to that of "being Cáritas", putting the dignity of the person at the center. Cáritas Peru paid tribute to figures who gave their lives in the service of the mission.

The panel left a shared conviction: the strength of Cáritas does not reside in the projects, but in thousands of volunteers who, from the parishes, embody the love of God to the most vulnerable.

Judge: the Cáritas that we want to be

On Wednesday, June 17, at the morning Eucharist presided by Caritas Peru, the gifts of the Spirit were implored to discern with wisdom. The day began with the "Judge" plenary session, in which the work groups presented their reflections on the identity that the Cáritas are called to embody in the Bolivarian Zone.

From this debate a common image emerged: the Cáritas that the zone wants to build must be incarnated in reality, listen and discern with the poor, have Christ as its center and driving force, maintain a clear identity founded on the Gospel and the Social Doctrine of the Church, and influence politics with its own values. The risk of the "bureaucratic trap" was strongly warned, forgetting that staff are "collaborators in God's project" and not just workers.

The bishops present stressed the need for Caritas to be in deep ecclesial communion, take care of its own caregivers and be able to say "no" to conditions that compromise its ecclesial identity.

Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19 were dedicated to the moment of "Acting", animated by the spirit of letting oneself be moved by the Wind of the Spirit. The national Cáritas will present concrete proposals on structural issues: the Regional Cooperation System, sustainability in the face of changes in international cooperation, fraternal cooperation and the statutory quota, the identity of Cáritas in the face of environmental threats and the Modus Operandi.

At the end, the Zonal Declaration was read, which includes the committed and prophetic voice of the Bolivarian Zone as input for the XXI Regional Congress of Cáritas LAC. Click Download file (button below) to read the message.

(Text: María Eva Lobo / Photos: María Eva Lobo, Alvaro Lopez, Paúl Lamiña)