Bishop of Fontibán
Juan Vicente Córdoba Villota, S.J., was born in Quito (Ecuador) on July 23, 1951, while his father was serving at the Colombian Embassy in that country. He entered the Society of Jesus on January 20, 1969, and pronounced his solemn vows on February 2, 1988. He was ordained a priest on October 19, 1979. He obtained Licentiate degrees in Philosophy, Theology, and History, as well as Master's degrees in Theology and Political Science and a specialization in Bioethics, from the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá. He also completed a specialization in Clinical Psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. As a priest, he held the following positions: Minister of Juniors for the Society of Jesus in Colombia (1981–1983), Spiritual Father for philosophy students (1987–1991), Provincial Director of Vocational Promotion (1990–1994), Rector of the San Pedro Claver College in Bucaramanga (1994–2000), Regional President of CONACED (National Confederation of Catholic Schools) in Bucaramanga (1996–1999), National President of CONACED (2000–2001), and Professor of History, Psychology, and Bioethics as well as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá (2001–2004). On June 30, 2004, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Aussuccura and Auxiliary Bishop of Bucaramanga. He received episcopal ordination on August 28 of that same year. He is currently the Secretary General of the Colombian Episcopal Conference. Monsignor Juan Vicente Córdoba Villota, S.J., was born in Quito (Ecuador) on July 23, 1951, while his family was in the diplomatic service of the Colombian Embassy in that country. He was the son of General Juan Bautista Córdoba Álvarez—who served as Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic (Military Junta)—and Doña Leonor Villota Zambrano. He completed his primary and secondary education in Colombia, Chile, and Nicaragua, finishing his secondary studies at the Liceo de Cervantes in Bogotá. He earned the following academic degrees: Licentiate in Philosophy (1975), Licentiate in History (1976), Licentiate in Theology (1979), and a Master’s degree in the same discipline (1981), as well as a Master’s degree in Political Science (1983)—all awarded by the Pontifical Xavierian University (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana) in Bogotá. Subsequently, he obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1987) and completed a specialization in Bioethics at the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá (2003). He entered the Society of Jesus on January 20, 1969, and was ordained a priest on October 19, 1979. He completed the final stage of his Jesuit formation in Quebec, Canada, between 1983 and 1984. He made his solemn profession in the Society of Jesus—as a professed member with four vows—on February 2, 1988. He served as a professor of History, Psychology, and Bioethics; Dean of University Life for the Faculty of Medicine at the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá (2002–2004); and an honorary member of the Bolivarian Society of Colombia. On June 30, 2004, His Holiness John Paul II appointed him Titular Bishop of Ausuccura and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucaramanga. He was consecrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, Beniamino Stella, on August 28 of that same year at the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Bogotá (the Primatial Cathedral of Colombia). He was appointed as a delegate of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia to participate in the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Aparecida, Brazil, from May 13 to 31, 2007. In 2008, he was appointed President of the Education Section of CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council). On July 8, 2009, the Plenary Assembly of the Colombian Episcopate appointed him Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia. On November 25, 2011, His Holiness Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of the Diocese of Fontibón, and on February 11, 2012, he took canonical possession of the diocese.