Jesús Salazar Gómez

Jesús Rubén Salazar Gómez (born 22 September 1942) is the current archbishop of Bogotá since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 8 July 2010.^[1] [1]

Archbishop Salazar Gomez was born in Bogota in 1942. He completed his high school studies and philosophy at the seminary of Ibague. At the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome he followed the theological studies, obtaining a licentiate in dogmatic theology. He obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 20 May 1967, and subsequently held various positions including:pastor, the seminary professor, director of the Department of Social Pastoral of the Colombian Episcopal Conference, and Vicar for Pastoral Care.

He was named bishop of Cucuta on 11 February 1992 and was consecrated on 25 March. On 18 March 1999 he was appointed archbishop of Barranquilla. Archbishop Salazar Gomez is currently president of the Colombian Episcopal Conference. He was appointed as archbishop of Bogotá on 8 July 2010. He took possession of the see on 13 August. During his installation, Archbishop Salazar Gómez said that he would be focusing on three priorities: "protecting marriage as the union between one man and one woman, saving innocent life in the womb, and promoting peace in Colombia."^[2] Referring to the work of his predecessor, Cardinal Rubiano Sàenz, the archbishop said in his homily that "I will support each and every one of you with the affection of a father, a brother, a friend, because we have an arduous common task," said the archbishop. He added that it is necessary "to discern together the will of the Lord for his people and to strengthen the conditions that will make possible a joint evangelizing endeavour."^[2]

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