H.E. Most Rev. Jorge Bernal Vargas, L.C.
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Cancún-Chetumal

Bishop Jorge Bernal Vargas, L.C., was born on February 28, 1929, in Tepeyahualco, in the municipality of Tlaxco, Tlaxcala. In 1941, while in Apizaco, Tlaxcala, he became acquainted with the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.He entered the Apostolic School in Tlalpan, Mexico. After completing his novitiate in Mexico and Spain in 1946 and 1947, he pursued his humanities studies at the University of Comillas in Santander, Spain, from 1948 to 1950. From 1950 to 1958, he completed his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on September 15, 1957, in Lourdes, France.Father Jorge Bernal was the first Legionary of Christ to reach the priesthood after completing every stage of formation within the congregation. From the time he entered the vocational center until his ordination, 16 years had passed. He served for a time as Assistant for the humanities students and Prefect of the theology students. He was later appointed rector of the Legionaries of Christ Vocational Center in Tlalpan.On July 16, 1970, Pope Paul VI appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Prelature of Chetumal. On December 7, 1973, His Holiness Pope Paul VI appointed him Titular Bishop of Velefi and Prelate of Chetumal. Archbishop Pío Gaspari, Apostolic Delegate of His Holiness, ordained him a bishop on March 19, 1974, in Chetumal, Quintana Roo.On June 28, 1975, Bishop Bernal was appointed by the Holy See as a consultor ad quinquennium to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The commission’s purpose was to study the fundamental issues affecting Catholic life in Latin America and to work closely with the various episcopal conferences throughout the region.From the moment he was ordained Bishop of the Prelature of Quintana Roo, Bishop Jorge Bernal Vargas, L.C., distinguished himself as a man of faith and humility who, through his love and dedication, won the affection of the community he served. United with his fellow missionaries in the work of evangelization, he helped open new paths and sow throughout the region a deep love for God and the Virgin Mary.In 2019, on the occasion of Bishop Jorge Bernal’s 90th birthday, a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Chetumal. Hundreds of people, along with diocesan and religious priests who had witnessed Bishop Bernal’s missionary spirit and simplicity, attended the celebration. Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo, then Bishop of Cancún-Chetumal, shared anecdotes about him, including how Bishop Bernal would personally clean the church before celebrations whenever necessary.In 2020, during the jubilee marking 50 years of the Church’s mission in the Prelature of Cancún-Chetumal, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction was elevated to the dignity of a Diocese on November 21, 2020. Throughout all those years, Bishop Bernal worked tirelessly to evangelize the territory entrusted to his pastoral care, proclaiming the Gospel to those who had not yet encountered it, administering the sacraments, training catechists, and founding and building churches, chapels, schools, dispensaries, and shelters for those in need.After his retirement, he continued to contribute to the pastoral life of the diocese as Bishop Emeritus. He passed away on July 11, 2023, at the age of 94. He was remembered for his simplicity, humility, closeness to the faithful, and unwavering dedication to the evangelizing mission in Quintana Roo.His remains are currently interred at the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the city of Chetumal, where he continues to be remembered with gratitude and affection by the faithful he served for so many years.ChatGPT is AI and can make mistakes.

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