Archbishop Omar Alberto Sánchez Cubillos

Archbishop-elect Omar Alberto Sánchez Cubillos was born in Cogua, diocese of Zipaquirá, on 20 September 1963. He completed his ecclesiastical studies at the General Studium of the Order of Friars Preachers in Colombia. He obtained a licentiate in philosophy and religious sciences from the University of Saint Thomas in Bogotá, a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, and a specialisation in Gerencia de Instituciones de Educación Superior from the University of Saint Thomas in Bogotá. He gave his religious vows on 2 February 1989, and was ordained a priest on 17 February 1990. As a priest he has held the following roles: professor at Saint Thomas University in Bogotá; parish priest of San Luis Bertrán in Barranquilla; founder of the Dominican Community and director of the Centre of Distance Education in Villavicencio; president of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Corporation Opción Vida, Justicia y Paz; provincial councillor of San Luis Bertrán, province of his Order in Colombia; prior of the Friary of Our Lady of the Rosary in Chiquinquirá and rector of the National Marian Shrine; superior of Casa José de Calasanz in Villavicencio and prior of the Friary of Christ the King in Bucaramanga. He was appointed bishop of Tibú on 8 June 2011 and received episcopal consecration on 8 August 2011.