Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia), was born in San Gil, Santander, on 3 March 1962. Before entering the seminary, he worked with his father, Don Luis Emilio, in construction, newspaper sales and a cement factory.

On 31 January 1983, he began his studies in philosophy at the San Carlos de San Gil Conciliar Seminary. He continued his theology studies at the archdiocesan Seminary of Bucaramanga, from 1986 to 1989. He received the diaconate on 23 November 1988 and the presbyterate on 23 November 1989.

He completed his postgraduate studies at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome, where he obtained a licentiate in moral theology (1992- 1994).

From January 1990 to January 1992, he was parish priest in Albania (now diocese of Vélez); and parish priest in Curití from January 1992 until August of the same year, when he was sent to Rome to complete his postgraduate studies.

Upon returning to Rome, he was appointed as seminary formator from August 1994 to January 2000. He lived the final two years of this service as parish priest of Pinchote (from January 1999 to January 2001). He was parish vicar of Mogotes from January 2001 to January 2003; parish priest of Barichara and from January 2004 to 2009 pastoral vicar and episcopal vicar of San Gil.

On 2 February 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Montelíbano, Córdoba. He received episcopal ordination in the Cathedral of San Gil on 4 April 2012, and took canonical possession of the diocese of Montelíbano on 28 April 2012. On 19 May 2018, Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of Popayán, Cauca.

On 25 April 2020, Pope Francis appointed him metropolitan archbishop of Bogotá, where he took office on 11 June of the same year.

From 13 May 2021 to 25 June 2022, he was apostolic administrator of the diocese of Soacha, Cundinamarca.

On 6 July 2021 he was elected president of the Colombian Episcopal Conference for the three-year period 2021-2024.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 30 September 2023, of the Title of San Luca a Via Prenestina.

Member of:

• the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.