The Archbishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval, exhorted Bolivians this week to practice reconciliation, saying, “God is the one who forgives our faults because in Him there is neither vengeance nor spite.”

The cardinal called on Bolivians to ask themselves why spite and hatred could be so prevalent in their country.  “Bolivia is a country so full of signs of faith, of Christian signs, but why then this culture of hate, of spite, of not wanting to forget?” he questioned.

The cardinal also exhorted presidential candidates not to fall into dirty campaigning, in order to prevent confrontation between Bolivians.  “We don’t need to air people’s dirty laundry and thus create a culture of division,” he said.