Luis José Rueda Aparicio

His Eminence

Luis José Rueda Aparicio
Cardinal, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bogotá
Primate of Colombia
Portrait photo of Luis José Rueda Aparicio
ArchdioceseBogotá
SeeBogotá
Appointed25 April 2020
Installed11 June 2020
PredecessorRubén Salazar Gómez
Other post(s)Cardinal Priest of San Luca a Via Prenestina (2023-)
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination23 November 1989
by Jorge Leonardo Gómez Serna
Consecration14 April 2012
by Aldo Cavalli
Created cardinal30 September 2023
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal Priest
Personal details
Born (1962-03-03) 3 March 1962 (age 62)
NationalityColombian
DenominationCatholic
EducationAlphonsian Academy
Coat of armsLuis José Rueda Aparicio's coat of arms
Styles of
Luis José Rueda Aparicio
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
Ordination history of
Luis José Rueda Aparicio
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byJorge Leonardo Gómez Serna
Date23 November 1989
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byAldo Cavalli
Place14 April 2012
Cardinalate
Elevated byPope Francis
Date30 September 2023

Luis José Rueda Aparicio (born 3 March 1962) is a Colombian Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Bogotá since 2020. He was previously Archbishop of Popayán from 2018 to 2020 and Bishop of Montelíbano from 2012 to 2018.

Pope Francis made him a cardinal on 30 September 2023.

Biography

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Luis José Rueda Aparicio was born in San Gil, Santander, on 3 March 1962, the tenth of eleven siblings. Before deciding to become a priest he worked in construction alongside his father and managed a laboratory in a cement factory.[1] He studied philosophy in the major seminary of Socorro y San Gil and theology in the major seminary of Bucaramanga. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Socorro y San Gil on 23 November 1989.[2] He earned a licentiate in moral theology at Rome's Alphonsian Academy.[3] His pastoral assignments included parishes in Albania, Curití, Pinchote, Mogotes, and Barichara.[4] He held several other positions in the administration of the diocese, taught at the seminary from 1994 to 1999, and became pastoral vicar of the diocese.[5]

On 2 February 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named him Bishop of Montelíbano.[6] He received his episcopal consecration on 14 April in the Cathedral de La Santa Cruz in San Gil from Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia,[7] and was installed on 28 April.[5] In July 2017 he was elected President of the Episcopal Commission for Social and Charitable Pastoral Care.[8]

On 19 May 2018, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Popayán.[2] He was installed there on 7 July.[9] He received his pallium, the symbol of his office as a metropolitan archbishop, from Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica on 29 June 2018.[10] He dedicated the year 2020 as the archdiocese's "Year of Fraternity" to promote social solidarity and ecological conversion.[11]

On 25 April 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Bogotá.[3] He was installed there on 11 June.

He has been an outspoken supporter of the peace agreement of 2016 between the government of Colombia and the FARC rebels and protested against the assassination of social leaders.[12][13]

On 9 July 2023, Pope Francis announced he plans to make him a cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 30 September.[14] At that consistory he was made cardinal priest of San Luca a Via Prenestina.[15]

On 23 October 2024, the Synod of Bishops elected him a member of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Llegó nuevo obispo a Montelíbano". El Universal (Colombia) (in Spanish). 29 April 2012. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Resignations and Appointments, 19.05.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Resignations and Appointments, 25.04.2020" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Sacerdote Luis José Rueda fue nombrado obispo de Montelíbano". El Colombiano (in Spanish). 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Monseñor Luis José Rueda Aparicio". Episcopal Conference of Colombia (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 02.02.2012" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Consagración episcopal para monseñor Luis José Rueda Aparicio". Vanguardia (in Spanish). 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Monseñor Luis José Rueda Aparicio, nuevo arzobispo de Popayán (Colombia)". Revista Ecclesia (in Spanish). 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Monseñor Rueda Aparicio, ejerce como arzobispo de Popayán". Proclama Cauca y Valle (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Papa Francesco: Messa Ss. Pietro e Paolo, i 30 arcivescovi che ricevono il pallio". AgenSIR (in Italian). 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Year of Fraternity in Archdiocese of Popayan, Colombia". Zenit. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Monseñor Luis José Rueda es nombrado arzobispo de Bogotá". El Espectador (in Spanish). 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Archbishop Rueda Aparicio: violence and corruption must be stopped". Agenzia Fides. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Le parole del Papa alla recita dell'Angelus, 09.07.2023" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Assignation of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals, 30.09.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Synod elects new members to Ordinary Council". Vatican News. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
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