Bishop of Matanzas
Juan Gabriel Díaz Ruiz – Vice President and Bishop of Matanzas. Msgr. Juan Gabriel Díaz Ruiz was born on November 14, 1960, in Céspedes, Camagüey, Cuba. He spent his childhood and youth in his native province, where he was baptized, received his First Communion, and received the sacrament of Confirmation. He completed his primary and secondary education in Camagüey. In 1978, he entered the University of Camagüey to study Civil Engineering; however, feeling a call to a life of greater religious commitment, he interrupted his studies during his third year to enter the "San Basilio Magno" Seminary in Santiago de Cuba. There, he began his spiritual formation, continuing it at the "San Carlos y San Ambrosio" Seminary in Havana, where he specialized in Theology. He was ordained a priest on August 5, 1989, at the La Soledad Parish in Camagüey by Msgr. Adolfo Rodríguez Herrera, marking the beginning of his pastoral mission in various parishes across the region. During his priestly ministry, Msgr. Díaz Ruiz served as an associate pastor in the parishes of Morón and Florida, and later as the priest in charge of the Esmeralda parish. In 1999, he was sent to Rome, where he obtained a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Gregorian University. Upon returning to Cuba in 2002, he took charge of the Nuevitas parish and served as a missionary in the Chambas parish (Diocese of Ciego de Ávila), in addition to serving in other parishes such as Guáimaro and Florida. Msgr. Díaz Ruiz’s extensive experience includes serving as a clergy delegate to the National Commission of Priests and as president of the Biblical Animation Area of the National Catechesis Commission. He also served as a Bible professor at the San Agustín pre-seminary in Camagüey and at the San Carlos y San Ambrosio Seminary in Havana. Episcopacy: On July 8, 2017, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Ciego de Ávila; he received episcopal consecration on September 30 of that same year. During this new phase, Msgr. Díaz Ruiz demonstrated his pastoral commitment and dedication to the Catholic community in Ciego de Ávila, guiding the diocese with a revitalizing approach that remained close to the needs of the faithful. On April 7, 2023, Pope Francis entrusted him with a new challenge: leading the Diocese of Matanzas, succeeding Msgr. Manuel Hilario de Céspedes García Menocal, who retired after a lifetime of service. Since then, Msgr. Díaz Ruiz has continued his mission of spiritual guidance in Matanzas while also serving as administrator of the vacant see in Ciego de Ávila.