Colombia: Pope Francis appoints the new Bishop of Duitama-Sogamoso

The Vatican reported this May 24 that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Edgar Aristizábal Quintero as the new Bishop of Duitama-Sogamoso (Colombia), a diocese that had not had a bishop since the beginning of 2023.

on a note published on the website of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, it is indicated that since March 3, 2023 the Diocese of Duitama-Sogamoso “was being administered by Father Óscar Iván Pinzón Bonilla, by designation of his brother priests from the College of Consultants”, then that its previous bishop, Mons. Misael Vacca Ramírez, was named Archbishop of Villavicencio.

Bishop Aristizábal Quintero had been serving as Bishop of Yopal since June 2017. Upon learning of his new appointment, the prelate thanked Pope Francis and the community that accompanied him in Yopal during these years.

“I thank God every day for the gift of life and the vocation to which he has called me (…). I assume the new mission with faith and humility, hoping to serve this portion of God’s people with responsibility and joy,” he stated.

For its part, the Diocese of Duitama-Sogamoso states it’s a statement his joy at the appointment of Bishop Edgar Aristizábal as the new bishop and trusted that his experience and pastoral vision “will result, without a doubt, in the spiritual and pastoral growth of the Boyaca parishioner.”

“Under his leadership, the processes of evangelization, synodality, education and community service will surely continue to be strengthened. In the same way, this portion of the People of God congratulates its new pastor, and congratulates him in his new pastoral government,” he expresses.

Who is Bishop Edgar Aristizábal Quintero?

Bishop Édgar Aristizábal Quintero was born in Cartago, in the department of Valle del Cauca (Colombia), on December 2, 1965.

He completed high school at the Minor Seminary of Cartago, studied Philosophy at the San Pedro Apóstol Major Seminary in Cali and at the Nuestra Señora de la Annunciación Major Seminary in Cartago, and Theology at the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Major Seminary in Manizales and at the Mayor of Carthage.

He was ordained a priest on December 7, 1990 by the then Bishop of Cartago, Mons. José Gabriel Calderón. After that, he moved to Rome (Italy) to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a degree in Biblical Theology.

Among other positions, Bishop Aristizábal Quintero has been rector of the Ecce Homo Sanctuary in Ricaurte, as well as professor and rector of the Minor Seminary and the Major Seminary of Cartago.

He has also served as director of the Department of Doctrine and Ecumenism of the Permanent Secretariat of the Episcopate, ecclesiastical advisor of Cursillos de Cristiandad, and member of the Presbyteral Council, the Pastoral Council and the College of Consultants of the Diocese of Cartago.

On May 4, 2011, Benedict XVI named him Auxiliary Bishop of Medellín, receiving episcopal ordination the following month in the Medellín Cathedral.

Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Yopal on May 4, 2017, a diocese of which he took canonical possession on June 17, 2017.

Within the Episcopate, Bishop Aristizábal Quintero presides over the Episcopal Commission for the Promotion of Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue.