Pope Francis appointed Bishop Juan Gómez, until now Auxiliary Bishop of Cochabamba, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia).
At the same time that he entrusted him with this new task, the Holy Father also appointed him Titular Bishop of Semta.
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When introducing the new auxiliary bishop at press conferencethe Archbishop of Santa Cruz, Mons. René Leigue Cesari expressed: “In the midst of so many problems, in the midst of the situations we live in, which are so negative at times, within what is ecclesial, we want to give good news.” .
The prelate highlighted that from now on, Bishop Gómez “will carry out his activity, his pastoral work, in the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz.”
“Welcome Bishop Juan Gómez to Santa Cruz, the land that you already know, your stay here in the archdiocese is not going to be difficult, and on behalf of all the parishioners here, of the archdiocese who surely also feel very happy with your return,” he said, hoping “that you feel comfortable in the work that awaits you in the archdiocese.”
The new auxiliary bishop first thanked God “for life, for the vocation,” and Pope Francis for calling him to the episcopal ministry almost six years ago. He also especially thanked Bishop René Leigue for accepting him into the archdiocese “to collaborate with my episcopal ministry.”
“What you know is not always easy, I believe that where you are there are always new challenges. “I come with all my willingness to collaborate in everything I can and I truly feel very grateful, very honored by this appointment to Pope Francis,” he expressed, assuring: “I am here to do the will of God.”
Referring to the social situation in Bolivia, he considered that it is a “very critical” moment, with “very painful” situations.
“We as people of the Church need to continue reflecting”; considered, and asked the authorities on duty to “also listen to the Lord, to be enriched by the Word of the Lord, and not only listen to themselves.”
Who is Mons. Juan Gómez?
Mons. Juan Gómez was born on June 24, 1962 in Comarapa (Bolivia). He completed his training at the “Espíritu Santo” Minor Seminary, in the Diocese of Coroico, and completed it at the “San José” National Seminary in Cochabamba, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology.
He has studied Pastoral Communication and Missiology, and has participated in courses on priestly formation.
He received his priestly ordination on August 27, 1999. Among various priestly responsibilities, he became rector of the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
On December 27, 2018, Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cochabamba.
Juliet Villar
I am a journalist, with a degree in communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non-governmental organizations. Since 2016 I have been dedicated to Catholic journalism, first at the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as ACI Prensa correspondent for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.