Bishop of Riobamba
José Bolívar Piedra Aguirre was born on November 25, 1965, in Nabón, in the Archdiocese of Cuenca. He entered the Major Seminary of Cuenca, where he pursued studies in philosophy and theology. He was ordained a priest on March 24, 1990, incardinated into the Archdiocese of Cuenca, and obtained a Doctorate in Theology from the San Vicente Ferrer Faculty in Valencia (Spain). He has held the following positions: parish priest in various parishes; Vicar for Urban Pastoral Care and Coordinator of Priestly Pastoral Care; Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Cuenca during the *sede vacante* period (2015–2016); Vicar General and Vicar for Pastoral Care (2011–2019); member of the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, and the Council for Economic Affairs; and professor at the Major Seminary. On May 20, 2019, he was elected Titular Bishop of Maronana and Auxiliary Bishop of Cuenca, receiving episcopal ordination on July 6, 2019. Since April 28, 2021, he has served as Apostolic Administrator of Riobamba. He also assumed responsibilities such as Vicar for Urban Pastoral Care, Coordinator of Priestly Pastoral Care, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cuenca, Vicar for Pastoral Care (2011–2019), Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Cuenca during the *sede vacante* period, Auxiliary Bishop of the same archdiocese, and now Bishop of the Diocese of Riobamba—a jurisdiction where he was already serving as Apostolic Administrator. Additionally, he has been a member of the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, and the Council for Economic Affairs, among other roles. He obtained a doctorate in theology in 2006. He served as parish priest of Sagrado Corazón from 1998 to 2006.