Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán, the archbishop of Sucre, died on September 24, 2026, at age 63. His death comes less than six years after he assumed leadership of the Bolivian archdiocese in 2020.
Born on November 7, 1962, Centellas studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was identified in church records as a Bolivian Catholic priest and bishop. His ecclesiastical career began with his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Potosí in 2005. In 2009, he was promoted to bishop of Potosí, a position he held until 2020.
He took over as archbishop of Sucre in 2020. His tenure lasted until his death. During this time, he was a prominent figure in Bolivia’s Catholic hierarchy. From 2015 to 2018, he served as president of the Episcopal Conference of Bolivia. He was re-elected to that post in 2018 and held it until 2021.
Sources confirmed his death but offered no details about the cause. No official statement was released by the church or Bolivian authorities. His passing leaves a gap in Bolivia’s religious leadership. It also marks the end of a career that spanned more than two decades.
His leadership was marked by his involvement in national church affairs. His re-election in 2018 indicated confidence in his role among Bolivian bishops. He was seen as a steady presence in the church during a period of political unrest and social change in Bolivia.
The Bolivian government and church officials did not comment on his death by press time. His death was reported by local church sources and confirmed through official channels. He is survived by no publicly known family members.
In Bolivia, the Catholic Church remains a powerful institution. Leaders like Centellas have played a role in shaping social and political debates. His death might prompt a period of mourning and reflection within the church community.
His funeral arrangements have not been announced. No immediate successor has been named. The church’s leadership in Bolivia will need to appoint a new archbishop in the coming weeks.
Centellas’s death comes amid ongoing discussions about the church’s influence in Bolivia. His tenure saw him navigating complex relations with political authorities and civil society.
His absence will be felt in the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The Bolivian Catholic community is likely to remember him for his years of service and leadership. For now, his life’s work leaves an imprint on the country’s religious landscape.
According to Dead-People.