New bishop assumes leadership in Paraguay's troubled Concepción and Amambay region

Monseñor Cristino Ramos González was ordained as the new bishop of Concepción and Amambay on Saturday, July 4, 2026, during a ceremony at the Cathedral of Concepción. Hundreds of faithful filled the cathedral and its grounds for the ordination of the sixth bishop appointed to the diocese.

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The north is poor and neglected, our traditional countryside is aging and emptying, drug traffickers penetrate to dominate and establish brute power and money.

During his homily, the consecrating bishop, Monseñor Pierre Laurent Jubinville, highlighted the severe challenges facing the region. He described the area as marked by poverty and neglect, with drug traffickers seeking to establish dominance and a significant military presence. Jubinville noted that the traditional rural sector is aging and emptying, while indigenous communities with rich heritage are being exploited.

"The north is poor and neglected, our traditional countryside is aging and emptying, drug traffickers penetrate to dominate and establish brute power and money," Jubinville stated. He also pointed to the presence of large landowning families, a history of both solidarity and violence, and the pervasive militarization of the area.

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This is the table to which you are invited - and these are the diners.

Bishop Ramos González, whose episcopal motto is "Seek first the kingdom of God," expressed gratitude to those who supported his formation and ministry. He pledged to accompany the people without distinction and declared his openness to dialogue with all sectors of society. The ceremony marked his canonical assumption of office, symbolizing his role as the shepherd of his particular Church.

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Seek first the kingdom of God