This Monday, August 4, Mons. Mario Moronta Rodríguez, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Los Teques and San Cristóbal (Venezuela), died at 76 years of age.
The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV), expressed his deep regret And he described Mons. Moronta as “a tireless pastor at the service of the Church in Venezuela”, which left “an indelible mark for his dedication, his firm defense of evangelical values and his faithful commitment to the Tachirense and Venezuelan people.”
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“His leadership and pastoral closeness marked the life of innumerable people. We raise our prayers to the Lord to receive his faithful servant in his kingdom and grant him eternal rest; and that the Blessed Virgin welcomes him under her maternal mantle,” added the Episcopate.
The Diocese of San Cristóbalin the Andean state of Táchira, he informed that the Prelate died at 7:35 am on Monday. Mons. Lisandro Rivas, local bishop, ordered “to redouble the bells as a sign of grief and raise the pontifical flag” in all the parishes of the jurisdiction.
The mortal remains of Mons. Moronta will be veiled in the Cathedral of San Cristóbal for 3 consecutive days. During these days, masses will be held every 3 hours and the solemn laudes and eve will be prayed.
The diocese has declared 3 days of grieving and reported that the exequial mass will take place on Friday, August 8, at 10:00 am, he pointed out that in his last will, Bishop Emeritus requested that no expenses be made “in flowers or ornaments of any kind”, but that a donation destined for the poorest is made, if it is considered appropriate.
In Caracas, Archbishop Raúl Biord, He raised his prayers for the rest of the soul of Mons. Moronta. In addition, he decreed that all the parishes of the Venezuelan capital offer a novena “giving thanks for his life and pastoral ministry.”
Deep pain of Cardinal Porras
Cardinal Baltazar Porras, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas, shared his “deep pain” for the farewell of “a big man and fighter, pastor delivered and faithful witness of the Gospel.”
In one Instagram publicationthe cardinal said that the voice of Mons. Moronta “resonated with prophetic force in difficult times,” remembering all Venezuela that “the truth defends itself with love.”
“You showed us that fidelity is not rigidity, but constant delivery. You said firmly: Being a Christian is living with the gospel in the heart and open hands to serve ”, Cardinal Porras said.
Who was Mons. Mario Moronta?
Mario del Valle Moronta Rodríguez was born on February 10, 1949 in Caracas, capital of Venezuela. He entered the minor seminar in Caracas and then continued his studies at the Interdiocesano Santa Rosa de Lima Seminar, in the same city.
He was ordained a priest on April 19, 1975, incardinating the Diocese of Los Teques, where he exercised his ministry for 15 years.
On April 4, 1990, San Juan Pablo II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Caracas, and on May 27 he receives the episcopal ordination. There it served for 5 years, until in 1995 he was appointed as the third bishop of the Teques, grazing this diocese for almost 4 years.
On April 14, 1999 he was appointed Fifth Bishop of San Cristóbal, becoming at the 25 -year episcopal headquarters, until October 31, 2024. Mons. Moornta held several positions of relevance in the Venezuelan episcopate.
On September 24, 2009 he was appointed by Benedict XVI as a member of the former congregation for the doctrine of faith.
Andrés Henríquez
I was born in Caracas in 1996. I am a writer for ACI Press and correspondent of EWTN since 2023. Since then, I cover events of the Catholic Church in Venezuela, Latin America and the world. I have more than 6 years of experience in bilingual media. In addition, in Venezuela I have worked from various fields for freedom and respect for fundamental rights in the country. I am a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.