Bishop Aurelio Pesoa Ribera

Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, O.F.M., was born on October 10, 1962, in Concepción, in the Apostolic Vicariate of Ñuflo de Chávez (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia). He received the Franciscan habit on January 8, 1983, made his temporary profession on February 15, 1984, and made his solemn profession on February 22, 1988. He was ordained a priest on April 16, 1989. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the "San Pablo" Bolivian Catholic University (1987) and a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum in Rome (1993). Within the Franciscan Province of "San Antonio" in Bolivia, he held the following positions: Master of temporary-professed friars (Philosophy and Theology) and Vicar of the San Francisco Fraternity in Cochabamba (1994–1999); Lecturer in Ecclesiology and Theological Anthropology at the "San Pablo" Bolivian Catholic University (1994–1999); Provincial Definitor (1999–2005); Guardian and Master of temporary-professed friars during the two-year Philosophy program in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (2000–2008); President of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of First Instance for the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (2005–2011); and Parochial Vicar of "San Antonio" Parish in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (2009–2011). Since 2011, he has served as Provincial Minister of the "San Antonio" Missionary Province.