Diocese of

Montelíbano

Colombia

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Montelíbano (español) / Monslibanen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Cartagena

Neighbouring Dioceses: Apartadó (←), Montería (↑), Sincelejo (↗), Magangué (→), Santa Rosa de Osos (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1969.04.25: Established as Territorial Prelature of Alto Sinú (español) / Sinuen(sis) Superior (Latin) (from Diocese of Montería and Apostolic Vicariate of San Jorge and became suffragan of Cartagena)
1998.12.29: Promoted as Diocese of Montelíbano (español) / Monslibanen(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.03.04 – ...):

Bishop Farly Yovany Gil Betancur (51)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Montelíbano (Roman Rite)

Bishop Farly Yovany Gil Betancur (51)
(2020.03.04 – ...)

Bishop of Montelíbano (Colombia)

Suffucit tibi gratia mea

Born:	1974.06.29 (Donmatías, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1999.11.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.06.18

Priest of Santa Rosa de Osos (Colombia) (1999.11.23 – 2020.03.04)

Bishop of Montelíbano (Colombia) (2020.03.04 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Montería (Colombia) (2025.07.31 – 2026.02.14)

Bishop Luis José Rueda Aparicio (64) (later Cardinal)
(2012.02.02 – 2018.05.19)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Luca a Via Prenestina
Metropolitan Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia)

Permanezcan en mi amor

Born:	1962.03.03 (San Gil, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1989.11.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.04.14
Created Cardinal:	2023.09.30

Priest of Socorro y San Gil (Colombia) (1989.11.23 – 2012.02.02)

Bishop of Montelíbano (Colombia) (2012.02.02 – 2018.05.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Popayán (Colombia) (2018.05.19 – 2020.04.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (2020.04.25 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Soacha (Colombia) (2021.05.13 – 2022.04.25)

President of Episcopal Conference of Colombia (2021.07.04 – 2024.07.02)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Luca a Via Prenestina (2023.09.30 [2024.10.22] – ...)

Archbishop Víctor Manuel López Forero
(Apostolic Administrator 2010.09 – 2012.02.02)

Bishop Edgar de Jesús García Gil (79)
(2002.10.28 – 2010.05.24)

Bishop emeritus of Palmira (Colombia)

Born:	1946.10.13 (Roldanillo, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1971.08.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.09.08

Priest of Cartago (Colombia) (1971.08.28 – 1992.07.08)

Titular Bishop of Fordongianus (1992.07.08 – 2002.10.28)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cali (Colombia) (1992.07.08 – 2002.10.28)

Bishop of Montelíbano (Colombia) (2002.10.28 – 2010.05.24)

Bishop of Palmira (Colombia) (2010.05.24 – 2024.05.31)

Bishop Julio César Vidal Ortiz (81)
(Apostolic Administrator 2001.10.31 – 2002.10.28)

Bishop Julio César Vidal Ortiz (81)
(1998.12.29 – 2001.10.31)

Bishop emeritus of Cúcuta (Colombia)

Born:	1944.06.19 (Tierralta, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1973.04.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.02.18

Priest of Montería (Colombia) (1973.04.07 – 1993.12.16)

Bishop-Prelate of Alto Sinú (Colombia) (1993.12.16 – 1998.12.29)

Bishop of Montelíbano (Colombia) (1998.12.29 – 2001.10.31)

Apostolic Administrator of Montelíbano (Colombia) (2001.10.31 – 2002.10.28)

Bishop of Montería (Colombia) (2001.10.31 – 2011.07.16)

Bishop of Cúcuta (Colombia) (2011.07.16 – 2015.07.24)

Prelates of Alto Sinú (Roman Rite)

Bishop Julio César Vidal Ortiz (81)
(1993.12.16 – 1998.12.29)

(see above)

Bishop Flavio Calle Zapata (82) (later Archbishop)
(1989.02.16 – 1993.02.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Ibagué (Colombia)

Born:	1944.02.18 (San Andrés, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1968.08.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1989.03.16

Priest of Santa Rosa de Osos (Colombia) (1968.08.22 – 1989.02.16)

Bishop-Prelate of Alto Sinú (Colombia) (1989.02.16 – 1993.02.16)

Bishop of Sonsón–Rionegro (Colombia) (1993.02.16 – 2003.01.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Ibagué (Colombia) (2003.01.10 – 2019.03.19)

Bishop Alfonso Sánchez Peña, C.M.F.
(1969.07.28 – 1989.02.16)

Born:	1913.03.06 (Bogotá, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1937.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.10.05
Died:	1997.07.11 († 84)

Bishop-Prelate of Alto Sinú (Colombia) (1969.07.28 – 1989.02.16)

Titular Bishop of Castro di Sardegna (1969.07.28 – 1997.07.11)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de la Santa Cruz, Montelíbano, Córdoba
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Apartadó (←), Montería (↑), Sincelejo (↗), Magangué (→), Santa Rosa de Osos (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 11,621 km²

Population: 268,830 Catholics (79.9% of 336,530 total)

Pastoral Centres: 20 parishes, 6 missions

Personnel: 37 priests (diocesan), 12 religious (12 sisters), 12 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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