This Friday, Pope Leo XIV appointed Monsignor Marcos Pirán Gómez as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa, according to a statement released by the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops at 5:00 PM local time.
The appointment was formalized through Decree No. 516/2026 from the Dicastery for Bishops, filling the vacancy left by the death of Monsignor Silvano Pedroso Montalvo, who passed away on June 13 at the age of 73 due to cancer.
The decree specifies that Pirán Gómez will provisionally govern the diocese "from the aforementioned date until a new Bishop takes canonical possession," endowed with all the rights, faculties, and responsibilities typical of diocesan bishops.
Monsignor Pirán Gómez, originally from Argentina, was born in Buenos Aires on March 7, 1961. He has served as the titular bishop of Boseta and auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Holguín since 2021 following his appointment by Pope Francis. He was ordained as a priest on December 9, 1988.
Prior to his episcopal ordination, he was the parish priest of San José in Holguín and was part of the Diocesan Missionary Commission since 2016, building pastoral connections in the Maisí area, which borders the diocese he now oversees.
The Conference of Bishops expressed their gratitude to the new administrator and urged the faithful to support him with their prayers: "While we thank Monsignor Pirán Gómez for taking on this new pastoral role with generosity, we assure him of our prayers and ask everyone to include Monsignor Marcos and the Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa in their prayers during this time."
The diocese that Pirán Gómez will manage temporarily is one of Cuba's youngest, established on January 24, 1998, by Pope John Paul II during his historic visit to the island.
His predecessor, Monsignor Pedroso Montalvo, was the first Afro-Cuban bishop in the history of the Catholic Church in Cuba, a milestone highlighted in his obituary by the episcopate.
The Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops described the late prelate as a pastor who lived "his role as a shepherd of God's people without making noise, but with silent dedication and sacrifice," leading a "young, predominantly rural" diocese with few priests and churches, a dispersed population, and a strong presence of evangelical churches.
Pedroso Montalvo was diagnosed with cancer during a stay in Rome, where he received care at the Gemelli Hospital and at the infirmary of the Society of Jesus. He returned to Cuba on June 3 and was moved to the infirmary of the Daughters of Charity, next to the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, where he was in critical condition before passing away.
The Cuban episcopate bid him farewell with words from his obituary: "He loved his diocese and for it, he offered his own life."
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Bishop Appointment
Who is Monsignor Marcos Pirán Gómez?
Monsignor Marcos Pirán Gómez is the newly appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa. He is originally from Argentina and has served as the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Holguín since 2021.
What led to the appointment of a new bishop in Guantánamo-Baracoa?
The appointment was made following the death of Monsignor Silvano Pedroso Montalvo, who passed away due to cancer, leaving a vacancy in the Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa.
What are the responsibilities of the Apostolic Administrator?
As the Apostolic Administrator, Monsignor Pirán Gómez will have all the rights, faculties, and duties of diocesan bishops, overseeing the governance of the diocese until a new bishop is appointed.