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Biography
Jesús Rubén Darío Salazar Gómez ([ruˈβen salaˈsaɾ ˈɣomes]; born 22 September 1942) is Cardinal, and current Archbishop of Bogotá since his installation on 13 August 2010.
Biography
Early life and ministry
Archbishop Salazar Gómez was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1942. He completed his high school studies and philosophy at the seminary of Ibagué. 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, seminary professor, director of the Department of Social Pastoral of the Colombian Episcopal Conference, and Vicar for Pastoral Care.
Bishop
He was named Bishop of Cúcuta on 11 February 1992 and was consecrated on 25 March. On 18 March 1999 he was appointed archbishop of Barranquilla. He is currently president of the Colombian Episcopal Conference. He was appointed 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". Referring to the work of his predecessor, Cardinal Rubiano Sáenz, 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." 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."
Cardinal
He was created a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in a consistory on 24 November 2012. As Cardinal priest he was assigned the titular church of San Gerardo Maiella.
On Thursday, 31 January 2013, Cardinal Rubén Salazar Gómez was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as a Member of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
He was appointed a member of the Congregation for Bishops in December 2013 and was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis. In May 2015, he was elected president of the Latin American Bishops Conference (CELAM).