Monsignor Teodoro Gómez Rivera, bishop of Choluteca and vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Honduras, passed away this Monday, September 28, in Madrid at the age of 63, while traveling to Rome to participate in the ad limina Apostolorum visit of the Honduran bishops.
Honduran media confirmed that the prelate died after arriving in Madrid, a stopover on his journey to the Italian capital. At this time, the cause of death has not been officially announced.
“With deep sorrow and with firm hope in the Resurrection, we share the sad news that His Excellency Monsignor Teodoro Gómez, Bishop of Choluteca, has passed away,” the Honduran Church stated through local media.
In the statement, it also requested the intercession of the Blessed Virgin of Suyapa, patroness of Honduras, so that Monsignor Gómez may receive “the gift of eternal Beatitude,” and announced that more information will be provided as new details become known.
First Honduran to lead Choluteca
Teodoro Gómez Rivera was born on May 7, 1963, in El Banquito, in the Honduran diocese of Choluteca. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Major Seminary of Our Lady of Suyapa in Tegucigalpa and later obtained a licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on January 27, 1996, and incardinated in the diocese of Choluteca.
During his priestly ministry, he served as parochial vicar of San José de Nacaome, diocesan coordinator of Vocational Pastoral, spiritual director of the Minor Seminary Pablo VI, and formator at the Major Seminary of Tegucigalpa. He also served as pastor of San Pablo, director of the Monsignor Raúl Institute of Choluteca, diocesan delegate of Cáritas, vicar general, episcopal vicar for pastoral affairs, and rector of the Santa María Goretti Institute.
Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of Tegucigalpa on November 14, 2020, assigning him the titular see of Castello di Tatroporto. He received episcopal ordination on May 15, 2021.
On January 26, 2023, Francis accepted the resignation of Monsignor Guy Charbonneau and appointed Gómez bishop of Choluteca, transferring him from his titular see and from his role as auxiliary of Tegucigalpa. He took possession of the diocese on April 15 of that year, becoming the fifth bishop of Choluteca and the first Honduran to govern the diocese.
At the time of his death, Monsignor Teodoro Gómez was also serving as vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Honduras.