Archbishop Ricardo Centellas of Sucre dies in Oruro

Monsignor Ricardo Centellas, the Archbishop of Sucre and Primate of Bolivia, has passed away at the age of 63. He died unexpectedly in the city of Oruro while participating in anniversary activities for the Catholic University of Bolivia.

According to reports, Centellas suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and was rushed to a hospital in Oruro, where medical efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. His remains are currently being held in Oruro for a wake before being transferred to Sucre. Official funeral services and a mass for his remains are scheduled to take place at the Sucre Cathedral on Tuesday morning, with burial expected to follow in the same location.

Centellas held significant leadership roles within the Bolivian Church, having served as the Bishop of Potosí before being appointed Archbishop of Sucre by Pope Francis in 2020. He also served as the president and later the vice president of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference. Throughout his tenure, he was known for his involvement in national social and political dialogues, frequently calling for peace and structural changes during periods of civil unrest in Bolivia.