Abstract

This paper analyzes the position of the Chilean Catholic Church in the debate on national development and the Alliance for Progress that took place in the country during 1961-1970. The Church participated in the public discussion through the magazine Mensaje, in which positions were opposed between economic (material) development and spiritual and social development, as well as different visions around the assistance project.The institution supported and collaborated with the Alliance through the construction of houses and the “Food for Peace” program. In sum, the Church added to the expectations of development in line with the context of the time, which also brought it criticism in the middle of the Cold War.