In one of his first appointments for the Roman Curia, Pope Leo XIV incorporated two Latin American prelates to the Dicastery for the institutes of consecrated life and the societies of apostolic life. This is Cardinal Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil), and Mons. Julio César Salcedo Aquino, Bishop of Tlaxcala (Mexico).
June 24, The press room of the Holy See He announced the incorporation of 19 people into this Vatican organism. The new members are five cardinals, five bishops, four presbyters, four religious and a secular woman.
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From Brazil, the Archbishopric of Porto Alegre congratulated Cardinal Spengler, who also presides over the National Conference of Bishops Do Brazil (CNBB) and the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).
“It is a new recognition of the Holy Father to the mission and testimony of Mons. Jaime in the service to the Church, especially to consecrated life,” expressed in their social networks. In addition, they highlighted the new mission of the Cardinal to actively collaborate with this important organism “that accompanies and encourages men and women who dedicate their lives as consecrated and consecrated.”
In Mexico, both the Tlaxcala diocese like the Mexican Episcopate Conference They celebrated the appointment of Mons. Salcedo Aquino, transmitting their prayers “so that the bishop can fulfill fidelity and wisdom the task that the Holy Father has entrusted to him.”
The Mexican bishops also entrusted the Virgin of Guadalupe the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV and the new mission of Mons. Salcedo, and the other members of the Dicastery, “so that, guided by the Holy Spirit, they can serve with fidelity, prudence and wisdom to the Holy Father and the Universal Church in the accompaniment of the consecrated and apostolic life.”
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, Archbishop of Rabat (Morocco). Although it is originally from Spain, it also has Paraguayan nationality, acquired after residing for 18 years in that country. In addition, it was provincial Salesian in Bolivia between 2011 and 2014.
Likewise, the Pontifical Theological Institute Juan Paul II for the sciences of marriage and family reported That on May 15, 2025, Sister María Guadalupe Muñoz Durán, professor of said institution in Mexico, was appointed extraordinary consultant of the same Dicastery.
What functions will they have?
In an interview With a local medium, Mons. Salcedo Aquino explained that his work will consist, in general terms, in “helping in government and in the follow -up and accompaniment of the consecrated life in the world, which is always at the service of the Church.”
He said that he will not leave the diocese that he heads, since his collaboration will be punctual: “I am asked to be part of consultants or members of this Dicastery, where we will be summoned, I do not know yet, once or twice a year, to participate in Rome about what the plenarys are called on related issues.”
The bishop attributed his designation to the experience acquired as responsible for the episcopal dimension of consecrated life within the Mexican Episcopate Conference, which allowed him to hold meetings with all “the episcopal vicars of the dioceses for six years in different dioceses of Mexico, to address some issue, some specific topic about consecrated life”.
Diego López Colín
I am a graduate of journalism at the Carlos Septién García school with experience of religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I write for digital media and, since 2018, I report the most important news about the Catholic event in Mexico for the Ewtn news channel. ACI Press correspondent in Mexico since 2023.