Lopez Trujillo, Alfonso

Lopez Trujillo was born on November 8, 1935 in Villahermos, Tolima, Diocese of Ibague, Colombia . Lopez Trujillo moved to Bogota when he was a little boy. He studied at the National University of Bogota , as well as at the seminary of Bogota. And he completed his studies in Rome , at the Papal International College Angelicum , where he received a Ph.D. ^[5]

Lopez Trujillo was ordained a priest on November 13, 1960 and, after studying in Rome for an additional two years, returned to Bogotá , where he taught philosophy at a local seminary for four years. In 1968 , he organized the new pastoral department of the Metropolitanate of Bogota , and from 1970 to 1972, he was the vicar general of the metropolitanate. On February 25, 1971 , Pope Paul VI appointed him titular archbishop of Boseta and auxiliary bishop of Bogotá . The ordination was made on March 25, 1971 , in Bogota , by Anibal Munoz Duque , titular Archbishop of Karjana.

In 1972 , Lopez Trujillo was elected Secretary General of the Latin American Episcopal Conference, a post that he held until 1984 . One of his main achievements during that period was the organization of the third general conference of Latin American bishops in 1979 , in which Pope John Paul II participated. In the same year - June 2, 1979 , he became Archbishop of Medellin .

Lopez Trujillo was elevated to the dignity of Cardinal John Paul II on the Consistory of February 2, 1983, and became Cardinal Bishop on November 17, 2001 . Since 1990, he is chairman of the Pontifical Council for Family Affairs , and since 1991 , emeritus honorary archbishop of Medellin .

As chairman of the Pontifical Council for Family Affairs , he was known for claiming that abstinence is the best way to combat the spread of HIV / AIDS , and condom use is not only immoral, but also does not completely prevent the risk of infection.

Lopez Trujillo was one of the cardinals considered papabil at the Papal Conclave in 2005 , in which he participated as an electoral cardinal and in which Cardinal Ratzinger was elected pope.

Alfonso Lopez Trujillo was one of the most influential cardinals in the Roman Curia , distinguished by conservatism . Sharing the views of the current pontiff Benedict XVI , he entered his inner circle.

After a four-week hospitalization, Cardinal Lopez Trujillo died on April 19, 2008 in Rome , at the age of 72, due to a respiratory infection that occurs as a complication of diabetes . The memorial service was held on April 23, 2008 in St. Peter's Basilica . Cardinal Angelo Sodano served as the primate of the service, and Pope Benedict XVI delivered a sermon and performed the final remission of sins. ^[6]

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