He was appointed apostolic administrator of the archdiocese of Bogotá on 15 April 1967 and transferred to the titular see of Cariana on 30 March 1968. He hosted the visit of Pope Paul VI to Bogotá in August 1968 on the occasion of the 39th International Eucharistic Congress; it was the first papal visit to Latin America. He was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Bogotá on 2 February 1969.
He took up his role as apostolic administrator of the archdiocese of Bogotá on 15 April 1967 and later moved to the titular see of Cariana on 30 March 1968. He organized Pope Paul VI's visit to Bogotá in August 1968 for the 39th International Eucharistic Congress, marking the first papal journey to Latin America. He was subsequently named Coadjutor Archbishop of Bogotá on 2 February 1969.