On 8 December 2022, the Holy Father Francis appointed Br Marco Antonio Mendoza Martínez, OFM, Secretary of the Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis.
Br Marco Antonio, of the Franciscan Province of Saints Francis and James in Mexico, was born on 16 June 1982 (age 40) in Celaya (Guanajuato), Mexico. He made his First Religious Profession in 2005 and his Solemn Profession on 2 August 2010.
After formation, Brother Marco Antonio served in the Secretariat of the Provincial Curia at the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Expectación in Zapopan, Jalisco, from 2008 to 2015. After that, he was a formator from 2015 to 2017 in Santa Anita, Jalisco. Then, from 2017 to 2020, he was Vice Secretary General of the Order at our General Curia in Rome.
From 2020 until the time of his appointment, he worked as an assistant at Nuestra Señora del Refugio Parish in El Aguacate, Nayarit, and as a member of the fraternity of San Bernardino de las Joyas in El Izote, Nayarit, Mexico.
The Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis (PAMI) is a scientific institution of the Holy See dedicated to promoting and fostering "Mariological" science with a view to the "promotion" of authentic Marian piety. As an "international" pontifical body, it coordinates Mariology scholars from all over the world in the field of research, as well as in intercultural, ecumenical, and interreligious dialogue.
