Bishop Pedro Joaquin Hernández Cantarero

Pedro Hernández Cantarero, C.M.F., was born in Jinotepe, in the Department of Carazo (Archdiocese of Managua, Nicaragua), on June 29, 1954. He pursued his studies in Costa Rica, Colombia (Medellín), and Spain (Salamanca), obtaining a Licentiate in the Theology of Consecrated Life. He was ordained a priest on November 15, 1986. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: formator of aspirants (1987–1988); person in charge of the formation of Claretian philosophy students in Guatemala (1988–1989); student at the Pontifical University of Salamanca (Licentiate in the Theology of Consecrated Life, 1989–1991); formator of theology students (1992–1995); and, since 1996, head of the Claretian formation center for seminarians and lecturer in Spirituality and Introduction to the Bible in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. H.E. Msgr. Pedro Hernández Cantarero – Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Darién. He was born in Jinotepe, Department of Carazo (Archdiocese of Managua, Nicaragua), on June 29, 1954. He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown before moving to Managua, where he finished his university studies and qualified as a land surveyor. He entered the Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians) as an aspirant in Santa Tecla (El Salvador) and was later admitted to the novitiate in Medellín (Colombia). He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Salesian Theological Institute in Guatemala, where he obtained a Baccalaureate in Theology. He made his temporary vows on February 2, 1981, and his perpetual profession on July 16, 1985. On November 15, 1986, he was ordained a priest by the Archbishop of Managua (Nicaragua), Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, at the Church of the Heart of Mary in Managua. In 1988, he was sent to Madrid—to the branch of the Pontifical University of Salamanca (Spain)—where he obtained a Licentiate in the Theology of Consecrated Life, followed by a licentiate in religious life. On February 12, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Darién; his episcopal consecration took place in Darién on March 19, 2005. Positions held: From 1987 to 1988, he served as formator for Claretian aspirants and was also responsible for the formation of Claretian philosophy students in Guatemala City (1988–1989). He was a member of the Claretian Fathers' General Chapter in 1991; formator of philosophy students from 1990 to 1992; and superior and formator of Claretian theology students from 1992 to 1995. He served as a collaborator in Claretian parishes in Toulouse, France (1995); formator of young Claretians in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo); and Rector of the Kinbondo Center for Philosophical Studies (September 15, 1996–2005). He was a professor of Spirituality and Introduction to Theology at the Inter-congregational Study Center in Kinshasa and served as Superior of the Claretian Formation Center for Seminarians starting in 2001. Within the Panamanian Episcopal Conference, he is responsible for the Migration Section of the Department of Social Pastoral Care. He has served as Vice President of the CEP since 2019.