Colombian law recognizes historical importance of church dedicated to Sacred Heart of Jesus

Church of the National Vow in Bogotá, Colombia. / Credit: Eduardo Berdejo

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 17, 2025 / 16:15 pm (CNA).

The Colombian Senate passed a law on Dec. 15 that recognizes the historical, religious, and cultural value of the Church of the National Vow, a symbol of the country’s consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The passage of Bill 131-2025, introduced by Sen. Mauricio Giraldo, “is an act of gratitude and spiritual remembrance. Colombia cannot renounce its roots or the symbols that have sustained the nation. Legislating also means caring for the soul of a country,” the senator stated.

In a video posted on social media, Giraldo also recalled that the Church of the National Vow “was the national symbol of reconciliation” in Colombia after the 1899–1902 Thousand Days’ War, which pitted liberals against conservatives. The conflict left more than 100,000 dead and was won by the conservative side.

While many other factors were involved, including the role of the Catholic Church, the war was fought over whether Colombia would be a unitary state with a centralized government (the conservative position) or have a federal system with a central presidency but also local state governments (the liberal position).

“So this bill is a recognition of reconciliation, but above all, of Colombia’s consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We are happy; it has already been approved in its four debates, and now only [the president’s signature] is needed. It’s a done deal, we have a law, because we continue to protect the heart of Colombia,” he said.

Currently, the Church of the National Vow has structural damage that has required the installation of protective netting. With the passage of the law, it is expected that the state will assume responsibility for the restoration of the church.

History of the Church of the National Vow

It is called the Church of the National Vow because it was built to fulfill a vow or promise made on behalf of the nation by the then-archbishop of Bogota, Bernardo Herrera Restrepo, to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to pray for an end to the bloody conflict.

Herrera asked President José Manuel Marroquín Ricaurte to build a church in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Decree 820 of May 18, 1902, stipulated that the state would assist in the construction and emphasized that it was the nation’s duty to do everything possible to achieve reconciliation among Colombians.

On June 11, 1902, Colombia was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the cornerstone of the church was laid. Five months later, the civil war ended with the treaties signed on the Neerlandia plantation on the mainland and the U.S. battleship Wisconsin, as the American government had become involved in the conflict due to its interest in constructing a canal across Panama, which was then part of Colombia.

Construction was completed in 1918, and in 1964 the church was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI and declared a national monument in 1975.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.