On March 15, 2023, the Archbishop of CaliMonsignor Dario de Jesus Monsalvewill be 75 years old.
According to Father José Óver Gallego, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of CaliFormerly, the archbishops and bishops of the Catholic Church, as well as the Pope, were for life.
But since the time of Pope Paul VI, the retirement age was instituted at 75 years because it was already seen that some came sick, tired, with difficulties or because they had completed their active cycle. Hence the age limit, explained the clergyman.
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“When he turns 75, at that time he will present his resignation to the Pope and the Pope will name his successor,” Father Gallego said.
“What is the other figure? Before finishing the episcopate, Monsignor Monsalve can request an auxiliary bishop with the right to succession (…) It is an ecclesial maturity and that is how all the dioceses should do, one ends and the other continues This is what the Archbishop of Cali, Monsignor Darío de Jesús Monsalve, asked for the Pope to name this year the auxiliary bishop with the right to succession and it is what we are waiting for this year,” said the father.
He added that Monsignor Monsalve in his petition to the Pope Francisco he stressed: “This is the last year, let it be a transition year, let there be no traumas in the Church of Cali, let there not be a headless Church for several years without a bishop (while the Pontiff appoints a new one)”.
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He explained that when a bishop does not carry out this transition procedure of requesting another with the right to succession, the position remains vacant for a long time (one or more than two years) and the pastoral work of that Church is traumatized.
“It’s what Monsignor Darío wants to avoid in Cali. He wants the other to be there when he finishes and it’s just a change of chair.”
He indicated that a list of three is raised, it is taken to the Nuncio and the Pope confirms.
“That’s what we’re waiting for,” he added.
He recalled that Monsignor Monsalve’s predecessor, Juan Francisco Sarasti, when he was very ill, resorted to the same figure to which the Archbishop of Cali applies today.
Monsignor Sarasti asked Papa Venedict XVI for an auxiliary bishop with the right to succession and that is how Monsignor Darío de Jesús Monsalve arrived to later be ratified as the current head of the Archdiocese of the city.
On June 3, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Monsignor Monsalve as coadjutor archbishop of Cali with the right to succession.
Monsignor Sarasti submitted his formal resignation on May 18, 2011 due to ill health (he died on February 25 of last year). On the same date of Monsignor Sarasti’s resignation, Monsignor Monsalve became the Archbishop of Cali.
Monsignor Monsalve has stood out for his critical voice in the face of acts of violence and homicides in Cali, as well as during the social outbreak, in which the Church was a mediator to get the 33 points of blockades that the city had to be lifted. in that period during the national strike, from April 28 of last year.
Their joint work with the international community and human rights monitors was relevant in getting young protesters to sit down at dialogue tables to advance agreements and work actions with the Mayor’s Office.
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The archbishop was energetic in questioning the shooting of citizens against indigenous minga in the Ciudad Jardín neighborhood, in southern Cali, also during the strike.
“The way is to get out of the confrontation and enter into a dialogue strategy,” were his words at the time.
“The indigenous are our indigenous. It is a very organized population that has much to teach us. Unfortunately they have wanted to divide them,” said the Archbishop of Cali, in that 2021.
“I apologize, on behalf of the city and the authorities of Cali, for the situations experienced. You are the hopeful people of ancestral knowledge and learning of peace for all”, he noted at the time.
Monsignor Monsalve has also been firm in his positions regarding the peace agreement with the FARC and the ELN, which has led him to receive accusations and criticism from some social sectors in the region.
CALI
