Pope Leo Appoints Bishop Ramón Bejarano to Lead Monterey Diocese
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ramón Bejarano as the next bishop of the Diocese of Monterey in California, marking a new phase of leadership for the local Church along the central coast of the United States. The appointment was made public on Wednesday by the Holy See Press Office and communicated through diplomatic channels of the Vatican. Bishop Bejarano currently serves as an auxiliary bishop of San Diego and will succeed Bishop Daniel E. Garcia, who was transferred earlier this year to lead the Diocese of Austin, Texas. The decision reflects the Pope’s ongoing attention to episcopal leadership in dioceses facing pastoral, demographic, and social change within the broader context of the Church in the United States.
Bishop Bejarano was born in Laredo, Texas, in 1969 and received his priestly formation across both sides of the United States and Mexico border. His ecclesiastical studies were completed at seminaries in Tijuana and Oregon, reflecting a pastoral background shaped by cross border ministry and multicultural communities. Ordained a priest in 1998 for the Diocese of Stockton, he served in parish and diocesan roles before his appointment as auxiliary bishop of San Diego in 2020. His episcopal ministry has included close engagement with Hispanic Catholic communities, education, and parish development, areas that remain significant within the Diocese of Monterey.
The Diocese of Monterey covers a geographically large and diverse region of California, encompassing coastal, agricultural, and rural communities. According to Church data, the diocese serves more than one million residents, with Catholics representing a substantial portion of the population. The appointment comes at a time when many dioceses in the United States are addressing shifts in population, clergy availability, and pastoral priorities. Vatican officials have not announced a date for Bishop Bejarano’s installation, but the transition is expected to take place in the coming months as he assumes responsibility for governance, pastoral care, and clergy oversight within the diocese.
