Víctor Codina, the Jesuit theologian with more than 30 years at the service of education in Bolivia, dies

The Spanish Jesuit and Doctor of Theology, Víctor Codina, passed away on Monday, May 22 in Barcelona. Codina was a professor at the Catholic University in Cochabamba, but he also worked in pastoral work in the departments of Santa Cruz and Oruro. He lived in Bolivia for 35 years.

One of his most famous teachings and phrases was that he said that “The Spirit blows from below”, in reference to the poor class, indigenous people and different people. He was a fighter for class equality.

He insisted on interculturality and intercultural dialogue, calling to reflect on the elements that must be present in the Church’s work with different peoples.

Codina always opted for a Church that was not closed in on itself and that the spirit is also wherever the Church goes. The religious was considered a thinker of Latin American theologyfor his contribution to literature, with the publication of several works.

His publications include: Do not extinguish the Spirit (Santander 2008), A Nazarene Church (Santander 2012), Dialogue of a Post-Council Theologian (Bogota 2013), He Spirit of the Lord acts from below (Santander 2015) and Dreams of an old theologian (Bilbao 2018).

In Bolivia, many religious organizations have expressed their sorrow at the death of Father Codina.