Br. Gerardo Antonio Vargas Cruz, OFM appointed coadjutor bishop of Fajardo-Humacao (Puerto Rico)

From the bulletin of the Holy See Press Office of 8 September 2026.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Gerardo Antonio Vargas Cruz, OFM, until now episcopal vicar for the clergy of the archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico, as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Gerardo Antonio Vargas Cruz, OFM, was born on 2 December 1976 in Mayagüez. He joined the Order of Friars Minor in the Franciscan Custody of the Caribbean, carrying out his novitiate in the Dominican Republic. He continued his formation in Puerto Rico at the Universidad Central de Bayamón, graduating in social service and obtaining a Master of Divinity.
He gave his solemn profession in 2004, and was ordained a priest on 12 August 2006.

He has held the following offices: master of novices; national assistant of the Secular Order in Puerto Rico; deputy Custos and Custos of the Franciscans in the Caribbean; professor at the Universidad Central de Bayamón; director of radio programming; chaplain of Bayamón Prison; vicar for the clergy in the archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico, and collaborator with the Conference of Religious of Puerto Rico.