Bishop of Istmina-Tadó
Mario de Jesús Álvarez Gómez is Bishop of Istmina-Tadó, Colombia. He was born in Palmitas, municipality of Medellín, in the territory of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos, on 19 October 1959. He completed primary studies in Palmitas, his native town, and obtained an academic baccalaureate at the diocesan minor seminary of Santa Rosa de Osos. Immediately afterward, he entered the major seminary of Santa Rosa de Osos, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained a priest on 19 November 1985 and incardinated in the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos. Later, in 1993, he obtained a licentiate in Biblical Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. He served as parochial vicar of Entrerríos from 1985 to 1987; professor in the diocesan minor seminary from 1987 to 1989; prefect of discipline in the minor seminary in 1988; parish administrator in El Brasil from 1989 to 1990; professor of Philosophy and Languages in the major seminary in 1990; pursued Biblical Theology studies in Rome from 1990 to 1993; professor in the diocesan major seminary from 1994 to 1995; vicar general of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos from 1995 to 2000; vicar for pastoral ministry in the same diocese from 1997 to 2000; rector of the diocesan major seminary from 1999 to 2003; parish priest in San Pedro de los Milagros from 2003 to 2008; parish priest in the Cathedral of Santa Rosa de Osos from 2009 to 2010; and director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Colombia from 2010 to 2018. On 3 February 2018 His Holiness Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Istmina-Tadó. On 3 March of the same year he received episcopal ordination. On 29 June 2022 His Holiness Pope Francis appointed him as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Quibdó.