The Apostolic Nuncio in Spain, Bernardito Cleopas, has officiated this Thursday in the cathedral of the lagoon to take possession of Eloy Alberto Santiago as the new bishop of the Nivariense diocese. Monsignor Santiago, under the episcopal motto ‘to serve’, has become the fifteenth bishop of the lagoon (Tenerife) today.
The Diocese of San Cristóbal de la Laguna was vacant since the acceptance of the resignation of Mons. Bernardo Álvarez, on September 16, 2024, which he exercised during 19 years of bishop. On February 24, 2024, Pope Francis appointed the new bishop to Eloy Alberto Santiago Santiago.
The celebration was designed to host about 1,200 people inside the cathedral, and on their outside screens were installed for visualization. The event has joined the presence of two nuncios, 14 bishops and more than 250 priests.
Among the concelebrants of the Management ceremony have also been the titular and auxiliary bishops of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos and Cristóbal Déniz, respectively.
At the ceremony, the Apostolic Nuncio in Spain, Bernardito Cleopas, has recognized the one who was Bishop, Bernardo Álvarez, for having offered “his life to the service” of the diocese, while he has been grateful to “consecrate” this Thursday to Monsignor Santiago, to whom he has transmitted that “the trade of love” that will now undertake “with the custody and transmission” of the faith.
“In this mission that the Church entrusts you, many priests will help you who live with the faithful, in all the villages of the Diocese, who participate in their eagerness and concerns. (…) Do not stop striving to revitalize the diocesan seminar. Try that the application for vocations is shared by all priests and the lush faithful in the diocese Nivarie expressed.
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
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Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
Eloy Santiago takes possession as a new bishop of Tenerife. / Sergio Méndez
death of Pope Francis
The death of Pope Francis has prevented the presence of some cardinals and bishops to the ceremony, such as that of the Lithuanian cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, a coadjutor arciprest of the papal basilica of Santa María la Mayor, who was initially going to officiate the ordination.
The day began after 10.30 am, with the clergy procession to the cathedral. At 11.00 the celebration began in which the Orfeón La Paz and the Epiphany Choir have been in charge of the musical part.
After the input procession and the initial rites, the word liturgy has begun and, subsequently, the ordination liturgy.
About Monsignor Santiago
Monsignor Santiago has become the thirteenth bishop of La Laguna Thursday. He was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on September 8, 1973, and entered the Diocesan Seminary of the Canary Islands in 1992, where he obtained the Bachelor in Theology from the Pontifical university of Comillas.
He was ordained a priest on July 17, 1999 in the Canary Islands Cathedral. After obtaining a degree in dogmatic theology at the Gregorian University, in January 2004 he was a doctorate in theology, at the same university.
Among the authorities present in the inauguration as bishop of Tenerife has been the president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, who, in statements to the media in minutes prior to the beginning of the act, has celebrated “a big day for the Canary Islands, for the Diocese and the municipality of La Laguna”.
“The relationship of the church with the city and with the islands has always been very narrow and, of course, here we are to give respect and above all collaboration,” said the regional president.
