The Episcopal Conference of Chile (CECH), gathered at the Plenary Assembly from May 5 to 9, elected Mons.
The prelate happens in office to Mons. Sergio Pérez de Arce, Archbishop of Concepción, who served as general secretary since 2021.
Receive the main news of ACI Press by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social networks. Subscribe to our free channels today:
On your website, The episcopate explains that the General Secretariat is a permanent instance that promotes “the execution and coordination of the agreements of the Plenary Assembly, the Permanent Committee and the Pastoral Commission of Bishops (COP)”.
In addition, “it is an executive position that is implementing the agreements of these agencies and coordinates the work of the COP and its pastoral areas. Also, it fulfills the role of spokesman for the episcopate and represents the bishops of the country as a delegate before the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (Celam).”
Who is Mons. Cristián Castro Tovey?
The new general secretary of the CECH was born on November 25, 1969 in Santiago, Chile. He entered the Pontifical Seminar of Santiago in March 1989, he was ordained a priest on May 24, 1997 by Cardinal Carlos Oviedo Cavada, archbishop of Santiago de Chile.
In addition to having worked as pastor, Mons. Castro Tovey has been a member of the Council in the department of Clergy (2008-2011) and Diocesan delegate in the Pastoral Office of Complaints of the Archbishopric of Santiago, Chile (2011-2012).
Between 2014 and 2024 he has been the rector of the Pontifical Seminar of the Saints Angels Custodios.
From June 2018 to August 2019 he was Vicar Episcopal for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Santiago and in December 2019 he was appointed canon of the Metropolitan Cabildo of the Cathedral Church.
In June of the year 2021 Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Santiago, and in March 2024 he entrusted him with the diocese of Santa María de los Ángeles, in the province of Biobío.
Eduardo Berdejo
Professional in Social Communication of the National University of San Marcos in Peru, I have more than 20 years of experience in Catholic digital journalism. As part of ACI Press, I have been sent to cover the trips of Pope Francis to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Peru, in addition to the Synod of Sinodality in the Vatican in 2023.