The Holy See announced today the two new episcopal appointments for the Church of Colombia.
Is about Monsignor German Medina Acosta, who since August 2021 had been serving as auxiliary bishop of Bogotá, who was appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of the Diocese of Engativá; And the father Edwin Raul Vanegas Crowwho served since April 10, 2024 as Territorial Episcopal Vicar of San José in this same jurisdiction and was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá.
The profile of the new bishop of the Diocese of Engativá
Monsignor German Medina He was born in Bogotá on February 25, 1958, and was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bogotá on August 14, 2021 by Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, Archbishop of Bogotá and President of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia. He was then appointed Episcopal Vicar for Evangelization and Episcopal Vicar for Proclamation, Formation in Faith and Dialogue with Culture, as well as a member of the Presbyteral Council.
Germán Medina has a degree in Theology (1989) from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a Master’s degree in Community Psychology (1996) and a Specialist in Ethics and Pedagogy of Values (1998) from the same university. He also holds a PhD in Theology (2002) from the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome and was ordained on June 11, 1983 by Cardinal Aníbal Muñoz Duque, for the service of the Archdiocese of Bogotá.
Among his pastoral assignments, it stands out that he has been Member of the Presbyteral Council (2014), Parish priest in San Juan de Ávila (2015), Member of the Presbyteral Council, representing the Territorial Episcopal Vicariate of San Pedro and animator of the archdiocesan team for ongoing formation (2016) and, of course, his experience as Titular Bishop of Aradi and Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotáordered by the Holy Father.
Following this new appointment by Pope Francis, Monsignor Medina will replace Monsignor Medina in the Diocese of Engativá. Francisco Antonio Nieto Súawho has been pastor of this jurisdiction since July 2015, since in September of last year Monsignor Nieto turned seventy-five, the age limit to exercise this ecclesiastical office.
Episcopal Conference of Colombia announces two new appointments
Photo:Colombian Episcopal Conference announces two new appointments
Who is the new Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá?
The father Edwin Raúl Vanegas Cuervo He was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Bogotá on December 4, 1999 by Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz (RIP).
Vanegas is a specialist in Fundamental Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (2009), a graduate in Theology from the Pontifical Bolivarian University (2011) and completed doctoral studies in Theology at the Pontifical University Comillas – Madrid (2015).
After serving as Rector of the Major Seminary since 2018, he was appointed by Cardinal Rueda Aparicio, to accompany the urban and rural communities of the Vicariate of San José, located in the south east of Bogotá, where it covers the territory of 4 towns of the capital and 11 municipalities of Cundinamarca.
Now the priest will join the cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio and Monsignor Alejandro Díaz Garcíaalso auxiliary bishop of Bogotá, on the mission of pastoring the Primate See of Colombia.
Father Edwin Vanegas’ pastoral positions include being formator (2009 – 2018) and Rector (2019 – 2024) of the San José Conciliar Seminary of Bogotá; He is Archdiocesan Coordinator of Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue (2013-2016) and Territorial Episcopal Vicar of San José (2024 to date).
