Bishop of Vitoria
Juan Carlos Elizalde Espinal was born in Mezquíriz (Navarre) on June 25, 1960. He earned a Licentiate degree in Philosophy from the University of Navarre (1977–1980) and in Theology from the Faculty of Theology of Northern Spain (Burgos campus), receiving his formation with the Crusaders of Saint Mary. He holds a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical University of Comillas in Madrid and completed a course for directors of Spiritual Exercises with the Jesuit Fathers in Salamanca (1994–1996). He was ordained a priest on October 3, 1987, in Roncesvalles and incardinated into the Diocese of Pamplona, where he has carried out his priestly ministry. Among other roles, he served as director of the diocesan university residences "Martín de Azpilicueta" and "Argaray" (1999–2004) and as parish priest of "Santa María de Ermitagaña" and "La Sagrada Familia" (2005–2009). Juan Carlos Elizalde was a professor of Theology and head of pastoral care at the Public University of Navarre (1998–2016); territorial episcopal vicar for the Pamplona-Cuenca-Roncesvalles zone (2009–2016); professor of Homiletics at the "San Miguel Arcángel" CSET (2011–2016); coordinator of the diocesan Center for Spiritual Direction at the Divine Mercy Chapel within the "San Felipe Neri" Oratory (2012–2016); and Canon-Prior of the Royal Collegiate Church of Roncesvalles (2013–2016). His appointment as Bishop of Vitoria was announced on January 8, 2016, and he received episcopal ordination on March 12 of that same year.