Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Valparaíso, Chile

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fr. Mario Salas Becerra, O. de M., provincial superior and president of the Conference of Religious of Chile, as auxiliary bishop of Valparaíso, Chile, assigning him the titular see of Ita.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Mario Salas Becerra, O. de M., was born on 25 February 1973 in San Fernando. After some work experience, he carried out his studies in philosophy at the major seminary of Santiago de Chile and in theology at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and was ordained a priest on 3 March 2006.

After ordination, he first served as vice rector of the San Pedro Nolasco School in Quillota (2005-2007). He obtained a qualification in basic religion teaching (2007) and went on to hold the roles of vice rector of the San Pedro Nolasco School in Valparaíso (2008-2010), formator in the Mercedarian Seminary (2011-2014), and member of the provincial council of the Mercedarians (2011-2019). After receiving a diploma in psycho-spiritual accompaniment from the Universidad Alberto Hurtado (2012), he served as parish priest of the Basilica de la Merced in Santiago (2014-2018). He has been a member of the Council for the Prevention of Abuse of the Conference of Religious of Chile since 2018, provincial of the Mercedarians since 2019, and president of the Conference of Religious since 2021.