Latin American Episcopal Conference
While Bishop of Pereira, Castrillón Hoyos was reported to have walked the streets at night to help feed abandoned children. While many Latin American bishops refused to accept contributions from suspected drug lords, Castrillón Hoyos accepted donations for his diocesan charities, arguing that by accepting the funds, they would be diverted from funding crime and instead used to help the poor. He said that when accepting such donations, he had warned the donors personally that their donations "would not save their souls". Castrillón Hoyos once disguised himself as a milkman to gain access to the home of drug lord Pablo Escobar, and after revealing himself, the bishop persuaded Escobar to confess his sins. Castrillón Hoyos also served as Secretary General (1983–1987) and President (1987–1991) of the Latin American Episcopal Conference, where he opposed liberation theology, which many of his colleagues supported.