Naveed
Nayib Bukele identifies as a Christian believer. He has said he believes in God, in Jesus Christ and in the Bible, but that he does not follow the liturgy of any particular church. His father was a Muslim imam and his mother is Catholic.
| Religion | Christianity (non-denominational, personal faith) |
|---|---|
| Status | Confirmed by his own public statements |
| Full name | Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez |
| Born | July 24, 1981, San Salvador, El Salvador |
| Nationality | Salvadoran |
| Profession | Politician; President of El Salvador since 2019 |
| Family faith background | Palestinian Christian ancestry; father converted to Islam and became an imam; mother Catholic |
What Religion Is Nayib Bukele?
Bukele describes himself as a believer rather than a member of a denomination. In a widely quoted 2015 interview he said he is not someone who “believes much in the liturgy of religions,” but that he believes “in God, in Jesus Christ” and in God’s word “revealed in the Holy Bible.”
That makes him a Christian by belief. He is not publicly tied to a specific parish, and he is not known to follow a regular Catholic or evangelical practice.
A Family of Several Faiths
Bukele’s religious background is unusually mixed. His paternal ancestors were Palestinian Christians from the Jerusalem and Bethlehem area who settled in El Salvador, like many Salvadoran families of Palestinian origin.
His father, the businessman Armando Bukele Kattán, converted to Islam as an adult. He helped found mosques in El Salvador and served as an imam of the country’s small Islamic community. His mother, Olga Ortez, is Catholic.
His wife, Gabriela Rodríguez, has been reported by the Israeli press to have Sephardic Jewish roots. Bukele himself has not converted to Islam or Judaism.
Faith in His Public Life
Religious language appears regularly in Bukele’s politics, and he has invoked God in public speeches. El Salvador is a predominantly Christian country, split mainly between Catholics and a fast-growing evangelical Protestant population.
ARC Magazine has described his approach as faith-based politics: openly Christian in tone, but not tied to any one church, which lets him speak to believers across denominations.
Is Nayib Bukele Muslim?
No. Because his father was an imam, Bukele is sometimes assumed to be Muslim, but he has consistently described his own faith in Christian terms. He has not identified as Muslim at any point in his political career.
FAQ
Is Nayib Bukele Catholic?
He was exposed to Catholicism through his mother, but he does not describe himself as Catholic. He calls himself a believer in God and Jesus Christ without attachment to a church’s liturgy.
Was Nayib Bukele's father Muslim?
Yes. Armando Bukele Kattán converted to Islam, helped establish mosques in El Salvador and served as an imam.
What religion is Nayib Bukele's wife?
Gabriela Rodríguez has been reported to have Sephardic Jewish ancestry. She has not publicly detailed her own religious practice.
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Sources
- The Times of Israel: His dad was an imam, his wife has Jewish roots
- ARC Magazine: The faith-based politics of El Salvador's millennial president
- Wikipedia: Armando Bukele Kattán
- Wikipedia: Bukele family
- Berkley Center, Georgetown University: El Salvador
Last updated: September 24, 2026.
