Ahead of inauguration, Colombia’s president-elect goes on retreat

Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, went on a spiritual retreat alongside his vice president and various cabinet nominees just one week before the inauguration of his administration.

On Aug. 1, De la Espriella stated via his social media accounts that, during the retreat, he reaffirmed his conviction that “to build a great nation, one must place God at the center of every decision.”

Accompanying the president-elect on the retreat were his wife, Ana Lucía Pineda; vice president-elect José Manuel Restrepo; and cabinet nominees Jaime Andrés Beltrán, Mauricio Gómez, Iván Cancino, and Elsa Noguera, among others.

“With faith, hard work, and love for our land, we will make the country of our dreams a reality,” De la Espriella wrote.

In another post published on Aug. 2, the president-elect stated that the retreat strengthened his and his team’s faith and commitment “to serve Colombia with humility, responsibility, and love for the nation.”

Restrepo stated on X that “a nation that prays together stays together.”

As part of the event, each participant was given a copy of the Bible, featuring a map of Colombia and the heart of Jesus on the cover. Additionally, a video of Pope Leo XIV was shown.

Beltrán, the country’s incoming minister of labor, stated on his X account that “human effort is futile without God’s help” and that the together the retreatants experienced “a moment of encounter and unity, because we know that the battle ahead is also spiritual. God bless Colombia.”

Meanwhile, the retreat drew sharp criticism from members of current President Gustavo Petro’s outgoing administration. Among them, Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino and Rep. Mafe Carrascal argued that the event undermined the secular state established by the Colombian Constitution.

However, the spiritual gathering was defended by other political leaders, including some outside the incoming administrationʼs political party.

For example, Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez criticized the retreat’s detractors for trying to “make people believe that even believing in God is a sin“ while Conservative Party Rep. Luis Miguel López noted that ”a secular state guarantees freedom of conscience; it does not force a president to hide their faith.”

“What stands out is the double standard. When shamanic rituals and Santería were promoted from within the government, many spoke of diversity and respect. Today, a spiritual retreat is portrayed as an attempt to replace the Constitution with the Bible, something that never happened. The Constitution remains the same; the only thing that changed was the president. And, judging by the reaction of some, it seems that is what truly makes them uncomfortable,” López added.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.