Profile of the successor: management without confrontation
The scenario outlined by The Pillar points to a consensus profile, with low ideological exposure and priority on administrative management and diocesan unity. Rome is seeking an archbishop who reduces conflict, improves financial controls, and restores pastoral centrality to the archdiocese.
The names in play
The Bishop of Callao, Msgr. Luis Alberto Barrera, was the favorite for months due to his personal closeness to the Pope. However, pending management issues in his diocese weaken his candidacy for Lima at this time. Gaining momentum is Msgr. Juan Carlos Vera, the Military Ordinary of Peru, whom, according to The Pillar, the nunciature has already contacted to gauge his availability. His public discretion, absence of ideological labels, and capacity for dialogue make him the consensus option. Although in the military sphere there are voices questioning his character, even critics admit that his arrival would represent an improvement over the current situation.
Probable timeline and signals for the Peruvian episcopate
The timeline handled by Vatican sources places the appointment between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. The choice will send a signal about the priorities of Leo XIV in Peru: less polarization, more administrative order and pastoral continuity. The name that prevails—Barrera if he clears management doubts, or Vera as a balanced bet—will outline the immediate roadmap for the Archdiocese of Lima.