Rubén Salazar Gómez is a Colombian Roman Catholic priest and archbishop emeritus of Bogotá who held high-ranking ecclesiastical positions over several decades. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2012 and served as a cardinal elector during the conclave that selected Pope Francis. He is known for his pastoral focus on the defense of traditional marriage, the protection of life, and the advancement of peace in Colombia.
Jesús Rubén Darío Salazar Gómez entered the priesthood in 1967, embarking on a career within the Catholic Church that spanned several decades of administrative and pastoral leadership across Colombia. From his origins in Bogotá to his elevation to the College of Cardinals in 2012, he held multiple high-ranking ecclesiastical positions while representing the interests of the Latin American Church globally.
Early Formation and Ministry
Born on 22 September 1942 in Bogotá, Salazar Gómez pursued his early academic foundation at the seminary of Ibagué, where he completed high school and studies in philosophy. His advanced theological training occurred in Rome, specifically at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a licentiate in dogmatic theology. He subsequently secured a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Ordained on 20 May 1967, his early career involved serving as a pastor, a seminary professor, and the director of the Department of Social Pastoral for the Colombian Episcopal Conference.
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The Vatican appointed him Bishop of Cúcuta on 11 February 1992, with his consecration taking place on 25 March. Seven years later, on 18 March 1999, he transitioned to the position of Archbishop of Barranquilla. He remained in Barranquilla for over a decade before his transfer to the Archdiocese of Bogotá on 8 July 2010. Upon taking formal possession of this see on 13 August 2010, he outlined his core pastoral focus, which included the defense of traditional marriage, the protection of life from conception, and efforts to advance peace within Colombia.
Cardinalate and International Influence
Pope Benedict XVI created Salazar Gómez a cardinal priest on 24 November 2012, assigning him the titular church of San Gerardo Maiella. This elevation facilitated further integration into Vatican governance; in 2013, he became a member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Later that year, he served as a cardinal elector during the conclave that selected Pope Francis. His international service continued when Pope Francis appointed him to the Congregation for Bishops in December 2013, and when he assumed the presidency of the Latin American Bishops Conference in 2015.
Transition and Retirement
After a decade of leading the Archdiocese of Bogotá, Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 25 April 2020, appointing Luis José Rueda Aparicio as his successor. His tenure included a term as president of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia. In March 2022, he required medical intervention following heart complications, necessitating a surgical procedure to insert a stent and a period of recovery in intensive care.
Fast facts
- Born: 22 September 1942, Bogotá, Colombia
- Ordination: 20 May 1967
- Bishop of Cúcuta: 1992–1999
- Archbishop of Barranquilla: 1999–2010
- Archbishop of Bogotá: 2010–2020
- Cardinal created: 24 November 2012
- Award: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Questions readers ask
What specific academic degrees did he earn in Rome?
He earned a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute.
What were the stated priorities of his archiepiscopal term in Bogotá?
He emphasized protecting marriage as the union between one man and one woman, saving life in the womb, and promoting peace in Colombia.
