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.
