“Paraguay needs more missionary disciples”

After the resignation of Edmundo Valenzuela, as archbishop of Asunción, the Holy See decided to appoint Adalberto Martínez Flores (70 years old), bishop of Villarrica, as his replacement.

Present during the press conference were Nuncio Eliseo Antonio Ariotti, Archbishop Monsignor Edmundo Valenzuela, Monsignor Adalberto Martínez Flores, Amancio Francisco Benítez Candia, Secretary General of the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference (CEP) and Father Sergio Ayala, Secretary of the CEP.

“I have accepted the decision of Pope Francis. I received the news of my appointment five days ago, not without thinking about my own limitations for the arduous apostolic task that awaits me in this headquarters. Totally confident in Jesus, my good shepherd. Paraguay and the world need more missionary disciples. We will help each other”, he affirmed in his inauguration speech.
Martínez Flores pointed out that in 25 years he has always shown obedience to the positions to which he has been assigned. He stressed that serving as Archbishop of Asunción is like returning to his home.

“I thank the lay brothers for their collaboration and prayers. To the religious men and women also for their prayers. We will accompany and encourage with conviction the various initiatives of the pope and that are in full swing”, he finally commented.

His university studies were three years of Economics at the National University of Asunción (UNA). In 1973 he traveled to Washington, DC, where for two years he studied Advanced English and Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy at Oblate College in Washington DC, culminating in 1977.

In 1977 he traveled to Italy to enter the International Priestly School of the Focolare Movement, in Frascatti, Italy. In said enclosure for approximately two and a half years she was fully imbued with the spirituality and priestly fraternity inspired by unity. She participated in and organized several international congresses on spirituality for priests, major and minor seminarians, religious, consecrated laity, youth and families. In 1981, he completed his studies in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University.

Monsignor Adalberto Martínez was appointed president of the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference (CEP) in November 2018, a position he holds until today.