Archbishop of Villavicencio
Misael Vacca Ramírez was born on November 5, 1955, in Somondoco (Boyacá). He obtained a Licentiate in Philosophy and Religious Sciences from Santo Tomás University, a Licentiate in Theology from the University of the Holy Cross in Rome, and a specialization in Youth and Catechetical Pastoral Care from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on December 3, 1983, and incardinated into the Diocese of Garagoa. He held the following positions: Chaplain and teacher at the *Colegio Nacionalizado San Luis* in Garagoa; Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral; Episcopal Delegate for Youth and Vocational Pastoral Care for the Diocese; Director of the Licentiate program in Ethics and Religious Sciences; and Vice-Rector and Rector of the Juan de Castellanos University Institute in Tunja. On April 24, 2001, he was appointed Bishop of Yopal, receiving episcopal consecration on August 10, 2001. On April 18, 2015, he was appointed Bishop of Duitama-Sogamoso. In 1992, he began a part-time role at the Juan de Castellanos University Institute in Tunja, serving first as Director of the Licentiate program in Religious Sciences, then as Academic Vice-Rector, and finally as Rector. Concurrently, starting in 1992, he also held the position of Delegate for Youth and Vocational Ministry in the Diocese of Garagoa. On April 24, 2001, His Holiness John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Yopal. He received episcopal consecration on August 10, 2001 and took possession of the assigned see on September 1, 2001. On April 18, 2015, Pope Francis appointed him the new Bishop of the Diocese of Duitama-Sogamoso; he took possession of the diocese on June 6 of that year. He served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Málaga-Soatá during two periods: the first from August 15, 2015, to October 1, 2016, and the second from November 20, 2021, to October 1, 2022. On December 31, 2022, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Villavicencio, and he took office on March 2, 2023. He served as chaplain from 1984 to 1985. He was parish priest of the Cathedral from 1988 to 1990. In 1997, he was appointed rector.