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History of the Diocese of Cancún-Chetumal, including its origins, growth, and development of the Catholic community in Quintana Roo.

History

  1. On May 23, 1970, Pope Paul VI established the Prelature of Chetumal, entrusting its pastoral care to the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ and appointing the then-Father Jorge Bernal Vargas, L.C., as Apostolic Administrator.

  3. The appointment of the Apostolic Administrator took place on July 16, 1970, with H.E.R. Guido de Mestre serving as the Apostolic Delegate of the Holy Father in Mexico. He was transferred shortly thereafter and was succeeded by Archbishop Carlos Martini, who accompanied Father Jorge Bernal Vargas during his installation.

  5. For this reason, the installation was delayed for several months and eventually took place on November 21, 1970. Bishop Jorge Bernal Vargas, L.C., received episcopal ordination on March 19, 1974, at the hands of Apostolic Delegate Pio Gaspari. He was initially appointed Titular Bishop of Velefi; later, the provision was implemented whereby the bishop entrusted with the pastoral care of a Prelature would be known as its Prelate Bishop.

  7. On January 8, 1997, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, H.E.R. Archbishop Girolamo Prigione, the see of Chetumal was expanded, and from that moment onward the ecclesiastical jurisdiction became known as the Prelature of Cancún-Chetumal.

  9. Bishop Jorge Bernal Vargas, L.C., served as Prelate Bishop and continued as Apostolic Administrator of the Prelature until November 2004, when, following his appointment by Pope John Paul II, Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas, L.C., succeeded him as Bishop of the Prelature.
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