Bishop Ariel Lascarro Tapia

Monsignor Ariel Lascarro Tapia was born in El Carmen de Bolívar on November 3, 1967. He completed his secondary education at the La Consolara Archdiocesan School in the city of Cartagena. He underwent his priestly formation at the Juan XXIII Regional Seminary in Barranquilla, where he pursued studies in both philosophy and theology. He was ordained a priest on October 22, 1994, and incardinated into the Archdiocese of Cartagena. He obtained a Licentiate in Theology in Spain. Additionally, he has had the opportunity to complete various academic courses, such as: a course on Urban Pastoral Ministry at the Theological-Pastoral Institute for Latin America (ITEPAL); a course on Spirituality and Missionary Animation at the International Center for Missionary Animation in Rome; a course for Major Seminary Formators at CELAM; a course on theological updating, interreligious dialogue, and Christian salvation at the Universidad de la Sabana in Bogotá; an international course on social project formulation at the Francisca Radke Foundation in Cartagena; and a training workshop for agents of Biblical Animation of Pastoral Ministry at CELAM’s Biblical-Pastoral Center. Throughout his priestly ministry, he has been entrusted with the following pastoral tasks and responsibilities: Parochial Vicar at Santa Catalina de Alejandría Parish (1994); Vicar at Nuestra Señora del Carmen and Parish Administrator at Espíritu Santo (1995); Parish Priest at San Estanislao Kostka and at La Inmaculada Concepción in Soplaviento (1996–1997); Parish Administrator at San Nicolás de la Rosa (1997); and Parish Priest at María, Madre de los Pobres and at Cristo Salvador (1997–1998). From 1997 to 2003, he served as the head of the Archdiocese's Vocations Ministry, delegate for Missionary Childhood, person in charge of Seminary Student Ministry, and member of the Presbyteral Council; he also served as Parish Priest at María Madre de la Iglesia (2000–2003). Head of Vocations Ministry for the Archdiocese (2006–2007). Parish priest at Santa Catalina de Alejandría; professor and director of the intermediate year at San Carlos Borromeo Major Seminary (2006–2011). Delegate for the Biblical Animation of Pastoral Ministry (2010). Member of the Council of Consultors (2005–2014). Parish priest at Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro in Bocagrande (2011). Vicar for Pastoral Affairs in the Archdiocese of Cartagena (2011–2014). On November 21, 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Magangué. On January 17, 2015, he received episcopal ordination at the Church of Santo Domingo in Cartagena from Msgr. Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal. He took canonical possession of his episcopal see on January 24, 2015.