Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bogotá

The minor Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Spanish: Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús), commonly known as the Basilica of the Voto Nacional, is an important Colombian Roman Catholic church dedicated to Jesus Christ under the title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is the seat of the parish of the same name and belongs to the Archdiocese of Bogotá. The basilica is located in the Voto Nacional neighborhood, on the western side of Plaza de Los Mártires, in the Los Mártires locality of Bogotá. The church was built by the Claretian community, which has administered it since its foundation. The project involved several architects, including Francisco Olaya, Julián Lombana Herrera, and the Dutch architect Antonio Stoute, who designed the transept and dome. The painter Ricardo Acevedo Bernal created the ceiling paintings and designed the stained glass windows and main retablo, while the Italian sculptor Pedro Julio D'Achiard worked on the façade ornamentation. Construction began in 1881 as a private initiative promoted by devotees of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, led by Rosa Calvo, who donated much of the land. Following the Thousand Days' War, Archbishop Bernardo Herrera Restrepo proposed dedicating the church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a national vow for peace in Colombia. The government accepted the proposal, and the cornerstone was laid on 22 June 1902. The church subsequently became the site of the consecration of Colombia to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The basilica is built in the Neo-baroque style, with a longitudinal nave, 16 side chapels, and a transept. At the crossing rises a double dome system, including an exterior glass dome in the colors of the Colombian flag and an interior stained-glass dome depicting a radiant sun. In 1964, Pope Paul VI granted the church the title of Minor Basilica. The building was later designated a Property of Cultural Interest of Bogotá in 2001 and a National Property of Cultural Interest by the Ministry of Culture of Colombia in 2012. During the late 20th century, the surrounding Los Mártires area experienced economic and social decline, and the basilica fell into severe disrepair. Restoration work led by Bogotá's District Institute of Cultural Heritage has been carried out in phases, including the restoration of the façade, transept, presbytery, and dome. A final phase covering the nave and side chapels was delayed following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the independence movements of the early 19th century, Colombia experienced repeated civil conflicts. Between 1812 and 1886, the country underwent eight national civil wars, in addition to numerous regional uprisings. During the 1840s, the Liberal and Conservative parties emerged as the country's two dominant political factions. Both parties sought control of the central government, deepening political polarization between Conservatives, known as “Blues,” and Liberals, known as “Reds.” Conservatives defended the principles of “God, fatherland, and family,” emphasizing Catholicism and traditional social values, while Liberals identified with the ideals of the French Revolution and promoted secularism, religious tolerance, and freedom of conscience.

Despite these divisions, the Catholic Church remained a unifying institution and an influential political force. The Liberal Party viewed this influence with suspicion. The Colombian Constitution of 1886 and the Concordat of 1887 attempted to redefine relations between Church and State, recognizing Catholicism as the religion professed by most Colombians and promoting education based on Christian principles. Political tensions nevertheless culminated in the Thousand Days' War (1899–1902), fought between the Liberal Party and the nationalist sector of the Conservative Party. At the same time

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