Catholic Church participates in IPPFORB forum on UN development goals

The Bolivian Catholic Church participated in the 2026 IPPFORB Academy forum in La Paz to discuss the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Father Diego Plá Aranda, deputy secretary general of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, represented the Church at the interreligious and multisectoral meeting.

The forum included representatives from the Jewish and Islamic communities, ancestral spiritualities, parliamentarians, and international agencies to debate how religious actors can contribute to the UN 2030 goals.

Father Plá stated that the Church's strength lies in its territorial presence throughout the country. He noted that the Church operates through parishes, chapels, and pastoral service platforms such as Pastoral Social Cáritas to reach vulnerable populations. He emphasized that this presence allows the Church to address poverty and fundamental rights.