Twelve Latin American archbishops receive the pair from Pope Leo XIV

During the Mass on the occasion of the solemnity of San Pedro and San Pablo, Pope Leo XIV prevents the Pall for 54 new metropolitan archbishops, including twelve from Latin America. Specifically, three Argentines, two Mexicans, four Venezuelans, two Guatemalans and a Peruvian.

From Argentina, they received the Palio Mons. Gustavo Oscar Carrara, Archbishop of La Plata, who was auxiliary in Buenos Aires and is known for his pastoral work in Popular Villas; Mons. José Adolfo Larregina, Archbishop of Corrientes, who assumed the headquarters in February 2024 after years as a bishop of Puerto Iguazú and Mons. Raúl Martín, Archbishop of Paraná, before he was a bishop of Santa Rosa and auxiliary in Buenos Aires.

From Mexico, Mons. Óscar Roberto Domínguez Couttolenc, MG, Archbishop of Tlalnepantla, which belongs to the Congregation of the Missionaries of Guadalupe and Mons. José Francisco González González, Archbishop of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, who was Bishop of Campeche before his current appointment.

Venezuela was the most representative country with 4 new archbishops in Latin America: Mons. Raúl Biord Castillo, SDB, Archbishop of Caracas. He is Salesian and was a bishop of La Guaira before assuming the capitalist archdiocese; Mons. Jesús Ramón González de Zárate Salas, archbishop of Valencia, who was auxiliary of Caracas; Mons. Polito Rodríguez Méndez, Archbishop of Barquisimeto, who previously occupied the headquarters of the Diocese of San Carlos; Mons. Ángel Francisco Caraballo Fermín, Archbishop of Cumaná, who was auxiliary bishop of Maracaibo and Bishop of Cabimas.

From Guatemala, two archbishops participated in the ceremony: Mons. Víctor Hugo Palma Paúl, Archbishop of Escuintla, known for his commitment in Social and Migration Pastoral and Mons. Gonzalo de Villa and Vásquez, SJ, Archbishop of Santiago de Guatemala, who has also been president of the Guatemala Episcopal Conference.

The list is closed by the Peruvian Mons. Gilberto Alfredo Vizcarra Mori, yes, Archbishop of Trujillo, who was Apostolic Vicar in Jaén before his current responsibility.

The pallium delivery ceremony took place in the Basilica of San Pedro, in the presence of faithful and representatives of the local churches.

This rite, loaded with symbolism, was modified by Pope Francis in 2015 when he decided that he would only deliver to the archbishops this white wool band in the form of a necklace, adorned with six black silk crossings, which resembles a stole and is used as a scapular, and that the imposition would be made later, in each archdiocese, by the nuncio.

The Argentine Pope then explained that it was a gesture to give more prominence to local churches, make the most pastoral and participatory ceremony, and reinforce the link between the archbishop and his people, without weakening communion with Rome.