The Catholic community of Quintana Roo is in mourning following the unexpected death of Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas, LC, emeritus bishop of the diocese of Cancún-Chetumal. The prelate, who had served with dedication for decades, died on Thursday, January 22, in Mérida, Yucatán.
In a press conference offered by the diocese of Cancún-Chetumal, the vicar general, Father Ángel Estrella, LC, and Fray Genaro Mayorga, TOR, coordinator of liturgical pastoral care, recounted the details of the passing. According to Father Estrella, Elizondo suffered from a cardiac condition and had undergone a cardiac stent procedure that did not involve major complications. «He had the intervention scheduled, but he kept postponing it,» the vicar explained. He added that, after the procedure, the bishop was transferred where he seemed recovered, but he suffered a sudden heart attack.» It was the Archbishop of Yucatán, Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, who provided the last spiritual aids to the deceased bishop of the suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Yucatán.
For his part, Fray Genaro Mayorga described the series of liturgical funeral celebrations, detailing the aspects regarding the presentation of the prelate’s mortal remains so that the faithful can pay their last respects to the prelate. Both ecclesiastical representatives invited the faithful to pray for the eternal rest of the bishop and expressed their gratitude for his tireless work in consolidating the diocese, which was elevated to that rank in 2020 by Pope Francis.
Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas was born on September 4, 1949, in San José de Gracia, Michoacán. He entered the novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ in 1966, professing his perpetual vows in 1974 and being ordained a priest in Rome on December 24, 1982. In 2004, he was appointed prelate of Cancún-Chetumal by St. John Paul II, becoming its first bishop when the jurisdiction was elevated to a diocese in 2020. His resignation was accepted on December 6, 2025, due to canonical age reasons, leaving a legacy of promoting evangelization, defense of life, and support for vulnerable communities in Quintana Roo. His career included studies in philosophy and theology at Roman pontifical universities, and he was recognized for his commitment to the formation of Christian leaders. The vicar general of the diocese recalled to the media the particular closeness and warmth that Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas always demonstrated to representatives of the media.
The funeral rites for the emeritus bishop will take place in the Cathedral of Cancún, dedicated to the Holy Family, which is currently under construction and expansion. The remains of Elizondo Cárdenas have already been transferred to the cathedral where the faithful of the diocese can pay their respects in an atmosphere of prayer and recollection. The liturgical program begins this Friday, January 23, with Eucharistic celebrations during the day at 7:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m., time of the State of Quintana Roo, with the presence of the body. These Masses will allow the community to pay homage to the pastor who guided thousands for more than two decades.
The main celebration will be on Saturday, January 24, with a solemn Mass at noon presided over by the Archbishop of Yucatán, Gustavo Rodríguez Vega. The vicar general said he was unaware if the bishop-elect, Salvador González Morales, would attend the Saturday funeral rites. Attendance is expected from about 150 priests from Quintana Roo, bishops from various Mexican dioceses, government authorities, and pastoral groups. After the ceremony, the remains will be buried in a special mausoleum inside the cathedral, still under preparation, symbolizing his eternal bond with the diocese he helped forge. The diocese has organized controlled access to ensure an orderly event, with spaces for candles and flowers and an electronic book of condolences opened by the Legionaries of Christ.