Bishop Marcelo Daniel Colombo: Being close to Peter makes us stronger

At the foot of the Vatican basilica, Bishop Marcelo Daniel Colombo, Archbishop of Mendoza (Argentina) and participant in the Synodality Synod, stated that “being close to Peter makes us stronger in our following of Jesus.”

Upon leaving the Paul VI Hall of the Vatican, the place where the members of the assembly have met since the beginning of this month, Bishop Colombo expressed to ACI Prensa his joy at being able to participate “in this time of the Church.”

The Argentine prelate has traveled to Rome as an envoy of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina (CEA) together with Mons. Óscar Vicente Ojea, Bishop of San Isidro and president of the CEA; and Mons. Carlos Alfonso Azpiroz Costa, Archbishop of Bahía Blanca.

The objective of this second assembly of the Synod of Synodality – which is already on the verge of its final stretch – has been, according to the bishop, to delve deeper into the “synodal nature” of the Church, “as a servant of all men.” in the announcement of Jesus Christ as savior.”

He also expressed that he is very committed “to all the synods to seek the best reflection these days and to be able to express these wishes and this intention of the Church to the entire world.”

“Being close to Peter makes us stronger in our following of Jesus. In these days together with the Pope and the universal Church, we have learned and we will take to Latin America our own experience of a Church on the way,” he then stressed.

It is worth remembering that Pope Francis decided to transfer controversial topics—such as the possibility of women being deaconesses and the discernment of controversial doctrinal issues (including those related to sexuality)—to dedicated study groups and not to the synodal assembly as a whole. .

In this regard, the Argentine bishop highlighted that this study “will precisely ensure greater knowledge of the issues in question and a better service to the Church.”‘

Regarding the possibility that episcopal conferences can become “ecclesial subjects endowed with doctrinal authority,” Bishop Colombo remarked that “we all agree that there is a doctrinal service provided by the Episcopal Conferences, but there is the Petrine ministry and the doctrinal services that bishops do.”

In conclusion, he told ACI Prensa that he has been able to greet the Holy Father on two occasions during the Synod and assured that, “when he can,” Pope Francis “is going to go to Argentina.”

Who is Bishop Marcelo Colombo?

Bishop Marcelo Colombo was born in Buenos Aires on March 27, 1961. He studied Law, Philosophy and Theology. In 1988 he was ordained a priest in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Quilmes.

In 1994 he graduated with a degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. A year later, he obtained a doctorate in the same discipline at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

Mons. Colombo was parochial vicar, parish priest and parish administrator in communities of the Diocese of Quilmes, president of the Judicial Commission and rector of the Center for Philosophical and Theological Studies of the Diocese.

After holding other important positions, he was appointed by Benedict XVI as Bishop of Oran in 2008. In July 2013, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of La Rioja. In May 2018 he was appointed Archbishop of Mendoza.

Since 2017 he has been second vice president of the CEA, and is a member of the episcopal commissions for Social Pastoral, Aboriginal Pastoral, Family Pastoral and the Economic Affairs Council.