Bishop of Tarija
Jorge Ángel Saldías Pedraza, O.P., was born in Buena Vista-La Arboleda, Ichilo Province, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, on August 13, 1968. He completed the Dominican Order's postulancy and novitiate in Cochabamba during 1993–1994. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 2001. From 1996 to 1999, he pursued theological studies at the Higher Institute of Theological Studies (ISET) in Cochabamba, where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology. Throughout his ministry, he has held the following positions: Parochial Vicar at the "Nuestra Señora de Cotoca" Archdiocesan Shrine (2001); Parish Priest and Rector of the "Nuestra Señora de Cotoca" Archdiocesan Shrine (2002–2005); member of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz (2002–2005); and Provincial Vicar of the Dominican Vice-Province of Bolivia (2005–2013). During those eight years, he also served as Rector of the "Santa Catalina" Chapel within the "Virgen del Socavón" Parish in Maica, Cochabamba. Currently, he is the Parish Priest and Rector of the "Nuestra Señora de Cotoca" Archdiocesan Shrine community in Santa Cruz de la Sierra; Parish Priest of "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" Parish in Paurito; Episcopal Vicar of the Cotoca Vicariate; and a judge at the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.