Bishop of Tacna y Moquegua
Marco Antonio Cortez Lara was born in Chiclayo on December 10, 1957. He attended primary and secondary school at the "San José" school in his hometown and pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the "Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo" Diocesan Seminary in Chiclayo. He was ordained a priest—incardinated in the Diocese of Chiclayo—by the Holy Father on February 3, 1985. Between 1986 and 1990, he obtained a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and a Diploma in Social Sciences from the University of Navarra (Spain). In 1990, he was appointed Vice-Rector and Spiritual Director of the Chiclayo Seminary. From 1995 to 2004, he served as Rector of the same seminary. From 1990 to 1996, he was also the National Director for Peru of "Human Life International," and from 1990 to 1998, he served as Director of the Diocesan Commission for the Family. Since April 2004, he has been the parish priest of "Santa Lucía" in Ferreñafe. He belongs to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. He is also a member of the Presbyteral Council and spiritual advisor for the diocesan "Cursillos de Cristiandad" movement. ...from 1990 to 1995. He also served as Rector of the same seminary from 1995 to 2004. On March 18, 2005, Pope John Paul II appointed him Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Tacna and Moquegua. He was ordained a bishop on May 4, 2005.