Olavio López Duque

Olavio López Duque OAR ( born February 6, 1932 in Manizales, † June 11, 2013 in Bogotá ) was a Colombian bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Casanare.

Life

Olavio López Duque attended the minor seminary Colegio Apostolico San Agustín in La Linda, Manizales. He joined the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollects in the monastery of Suba and put the profession on September 28, 1947. From 1948 to 1951 he studied philosophy at the monastery of El Desierto de la Candelaria. As an alumnus in the Colegio de San Ildefonso in Rome he studied Catholic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. On February 7, 1953, he passed the final vows and received on October 30, 1955 by Luigi Cardinal Traglia in the Basilica Santi Apostoli the priesthood. Subsequently, he studied Biblical Studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute.

In 1957 he was chancellor of the Monastery of Suba, later professed master of the monastery and the Order of the province. In 1965 he became prior of Suba, 1969 and 1971, Vicar Provincial Prior of the Order of the province. A year later he also took over the rectory of the parish of Monterrey.

Pope Paul VI. appointed him on 30 May 1977 Vicar Apostolic of Casanare and Titular Bishop of Strongoli. The Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, Eduardo Martínez Somalo, donated to him on August 7 of the same year at the Cathedral of Bogota episcopal ordination; Co-consecrators were Buitrago Rubén Trujillo OAR, Bishop of Zipaquirá, and Arturo Salazar Mejia OAR, Bishop of Pasto. As a motto he chose Servi eius Ecclesiae.

As a member of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, he was involved in the commissions of consecrated life and of the Joint Commission for Catechesis.

On 29 October 1999, Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation. From 1999 to 2001 he was Apostolic Administrator of yopal, which the Apostolic Vicariate was assumed Casanare. In 2001 he became again a church office and was Vicar General and Vicar for Religious of the Archdiocese of Bogota.