Cardinal Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal is Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena (Colombia) who has given a life of dedicated service to the Church and was famously kidnapped by Colombian rebels in 2002.

Born on March 29, 1942, in Bucaramanga, Colombia, Jiménez began his religious journey by studying philosophy at the Pontifical Javeriana University in Bogotá and theology at the major seminary of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary in Bogotá. On May 17, 1964, at the age of 22, he solemnly professed his vows in the Congregation of Jesus and Mary. He was ordained a priest on June 17, 1967, in Bucaramanga.

Jiménez’s early ministry included roles as a professor at the major seminary of Santa Rosa de Osos and as a formator at the Eudist Seminary of Valmaría in Bogotá. He also served as the head of the charitable section of the Eudist Community of El minuto de Dios in Bogotá and as the director of studies at the Theological-Pastoral Institute of CELAM in Medellín.

His leadership within the Church became evident when he was appointed Bishop of Zipaquirá on November 9, 1992, and received episcopal ordination on December 12 of the same year. From 1995 to 1999, he served as the Secretary General of CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council), and from 1999 to 2003, he held the position of CELAM President.

In a dramatic turn of events, Jiménez Carvajal was kidnapped by anti-government rebels in November 2002 while traveling north of Bogotá. He was rescued after four days by a special unit of the Colombian army. This experience had a profound impact on him, as he later described a kidnapping as a very important and unsettling experience in one’s life.

On February 6, 2004, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Cartagena. He succeeded as Archbishop of Cartagena on October 24, 2005, a position he held until his retirement on March 25, 2021.

Pope Francis elevated Jiménez Carvajal to the rank of Cardinal on August 27, 2022, at the age of 80. He was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Dorotea. On October 3, 2023, he was formally installed as the Titular of Santa Dorotea Church in Rome.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Jiménez Carvajal has been a member of various Vatican bodies, including the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. His life has been characterized by dedicated service to the Church, particularly in Latin America, and he has faced significant challenges, including his kidnapping, with resilience and faith.