National Day of Reconciliation and Peace in 2026

When is National Day of Reconciliation and Peace?

YearDates
2027
2026

National Day of Reconciliation and Peace is a public holiday in Nicaragua, observed on February 2nd each year.

It is observed in memory of Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo. It was first observed in 2026, on the centenary of his birth.

Who was Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo?

Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo was a prominent Nicaraguan Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Managua from 1970 until 2005. He was born on February 2nd 1926, in La Libertad, Nicaragua, and passed away on June 3rd 2018, in Managua.

Ecclesiastical Career

Key Positions

  • Auxiliary Bishop of Matagalpa: 1968–1970

  • Archbishop of Managua: 1970–2005

  • Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni Evangelista a Spinaceto: Created cardinal on May 25, 1985, by Pope John Paul II

Notable Contributions

  • Participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

  • Served as president of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua from December 1999 to November 2005.

Education and Early Life

  • Attended the Salesian College of Granada.

  • Earned a doctorate in mathematics, physics, and philosophy in San Salvador.

  • Ordained a priest on August 10, 1958.

Honors and Awards

  • Received the Bruno Kreisky Award for peace and freedom in 1979.

  • Honored with various awards for his contributions to peace and reconciliation in Nicaragua.

Cardinal Obando y Bravo was a significant figure in the Catholic Church in Nicaragua and played a vital role in the country's religious and social landscape during his lifetime.

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