Pope Francis has named new bishops in Mexico and Guatemala, the Vatican announced on March 27, 2021.
Appointment of bishop of Huajuapan de Léon, Mexico
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Huajuapan de Léon, Mexico, the Reverend Miguel Ángel Castro Muñoz, of the clergy of the metropolitan archdiocese of Puebla de los Ángeles, until now parish priest of Jesús Buen Pastor.
Msgr. Miguel Ángel Castro Muñoz was born on November 15, 1970, in Puebla. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Palafoxiano Seminary.
He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1998, and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Puebla de los Ángeles.
He was awarded a degree in Church history from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
After serving as vicar in various parishes of the metropolitan archdiocese, he became rector of the Guadalupano Archdiocesan Shrine. In addition, he has served as supervisor of the minor seminary and professor in the major seminary, spiritual director of the Lay Missionaries of Charity, and coordinator of the Seminary Introductory Course.
From 2020 to the present he has served as parish priest of Jesús Buen Pastor in Puebla.
Appointment of auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán, Guatemala
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán, Guatemala, the Reverend Juan Manuel Cuá Ajacum, of the clergy of the metropolitan archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala, until now parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Rosario and director of the archdiocesan pastoral center of the same metropolitan see, assigning him the titular see of Rosella.
Mgsr. Juan Manuel Cuá Ajacum was born on April 22, 1962, in Totonicapán, metropolitan archdiocese of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán. After his primary and secondary studies, he entered the National Major Seminary, where he completed his basic studies for the priesthood.
He was ordained a priest on May 13, 1995, and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala.
After ordination, he first served as parish vicar of San Juan Sacatepequez (1995). He then studied for a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome (1996-1998). He subsequently served as parish priest of San Pedro Apóstol (1998-2001); formator in the National Major Seminary (2001-2004); parish priest of San Juan María Vianney (2004-2018) and assistant secretary of the Episcopal Conference (2008-2012). From 2018 until the present he has held the roles of parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, director of the archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, and member of the college of consultors.
Appointment of consultor of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State
The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupain, apostolic nuncio, as consultor of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State.
