The Colombian Government called for a day of prayer and candlelight vigil in Bogotá in memory of the 331 fatalities from the magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10, which also left 4,449 injured and more than 406,000 affected in 16 departments. The event concluded with the crowning of an image of Our Lady of Fátima by the president, accompanied by the Heralds of the Gospel.
Hundreds of Colombians gathered this Friday in Bogotá’s Plaza de Bolívar to take part in the “Prayer for Colombia and grand candlelight vigil for the victims and families affected by the earthquake,” convened by the national Government three weeks after the quake that struck the center and southwest of the country.
According to the latest report from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the earthquake, whose epicenter was in San José del Palmar (Chocó), has left 331 people dead, 4,449 injured, 219 missing, and more than 406,000 affected, with 193,011 families impacted across 16 departments and 496 municipalities.
One candle for each life
From early afternoon, soldiers handed out white candles to attendees, who lit a light for each life and family affected by the quake. The day also included the collection of donations for those affected, channeled through the campaign “Colombia, one single heart,” coordinated by First Lady Ana Lucía Pineda.
“God allowed us to unite in prayer. May God bless every family, may God fill us with strength to continue bringing light and hope,” said Pineda, who opened the event. The nearly three-hour program featured interventions by Catholic and other Christian leaders, including singers from the International Charismatic Mission. Rain forced the event to be shortened and prevented President Abelardo de la Espriella from addressing the crowd in his first major public open-air appearance since his inauguration on August 7.
Crowning of Our Lady of Fátima
The central moment came at the close, when De la Espriella crowned an image of Our Lady of Fátima—the same one present at his inauguration—accompanied by the Heralds of the Gospel, present in Colombia through their apostolate of the Knights of the Virgin, whose choir accompanied the ceremony. “The president entrusted the nation to Christ,” it was announced from the stage. After the crowning, the First Lady placed a rosary in the hands of the image.
The debate on secularism
The call also drew criticism. The Association of Atheists of Bogotá, which expressed solidarity with the victims, urged the Government to “strictly adhere to the constitutional mandate of religious neutrality” and recalled the Constitutional Court’s jurisprudence on the secular character of the Colombian State, proposing civic acts of remembrance.
The Executive, for its part, presented the day as “a space for reflection, unity, and faith to accompany those who have suffered fatal losses” and reaffirmed “the Nation’s commitment to the reconstruction and comprehensive assistance of the affected areas.” Among the measures announced for those affected are a rent subsidy of 875,452 pesos for three months and private contributions such as the 50 billion pesos pledged by the Corona Organization for reconstruction.