John Jairo Gomez

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

John Jairo Gomez
His Excellency, The Most Reverend; John Jairo Gomez
Bishop of Laredo
Church	Catholic Church; Latin Church;
Diocese	Laredo
Appointed	May 1, 2026
Installed	June 30, 2026
Predecessor	James Anthony Tamayo
Orders
Ordination	May 23, 2009; by Álvaro Corrada del Río
Consecration	June 30, 2026; by Gustavo García-Siller, Gregory Kelly, and James Anthony Tamayo
Personal details
Born	December 15, 1975 (age 50); Santa Rosa de Cabal, Risaralda Department, Colombia
Motto	Ego elegi vos et posui vos; (Latin for 'I chose you and appointed you')
	Styles
Reference style	His Excellency; The Most Reverend;
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

John Jairo Gomez (born December 15, 1975) is a Colombian American Catholic prelate who serves as Bishop of Laredo.

Early life and education

Gomez was born in Santa Rosa de Cabal, Colombia on December 15, 1975, the son of the late José Jairo Gomez and Martha Lucía Cardona.^[1] Raised in Cali, Gomez fulfilled his mandatory military service in the National Army of Colombia after completing his secondary education. Emigrating to the United States in 2002 (and becoming a citizen in 2021), Gomez entered formation for the Diocese of Tyler. Gomez earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Saint John Vianney Seminary in Miami in 2004 and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, a Master of Divinity, and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from University of St. Thomas in 2009. He later completed a J.C.L. in canonical studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2012.^[2]

Priesthood

Gomez was ordained a priest on May 23, 2009, and went on to serve in various roles in the Diocese of Tyler. After completing his studies in Rome, Gomez served as parochial administrator and later pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Pittsburg (2012–2017), as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Kilgore (2017–2018) and as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Frankston (2018–2020).

In addition to his various pastoral roles, Gomez served as the diocesan judge of the diocesan tribunal and adjunct judicial vicar, becoming judicial vicar in 2013 and serving as promoter of justice from 2018 to 2023. Gomez served as vicar general and moderator of the curia for Tyler from 2015–2023 and again from 2025 until his appointment.^[1]

Episcopal career

Bishop of Laredo

On May 1, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Gomez the second Bishop of Laredo.^[2] His episcopal consecration occurred on June 30, 2026.^[3]^[1]^[4]

References

1 2 3 "Pope Leo Appoints Father John Gomez as Bishop of Laredo". Diocese of Tyler. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
1 2 "Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop James Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo; Appoints Reverend John Gomez as Successor". May 1, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
↑ Charur, Malena (May 1, 2026). "Pope Leo XIV names John Jairo Gomez as next bishop of Laredo". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
↑ "Rinunce e nomine, 01.05.2026". Retrieved May 1, 2026.

External links

Catholic Church titles

Preceded by

James Anthony Tamayo

Bishop of Laredo
2026–present

Succeeded by

Incumbent

[tyler-1] 1 2 3 "Pope Leo Appoints Father John Gomez as Bishop of Laredo". Diocese of Tyler. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 1, 2026.

[usccb-appointment-2] 1 2 "Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop James Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo; Appoints Reverend John Gomez as Successor". May 1, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.

[3] Charur, Malena (May 1, 2026). "Pope Leo XIV names John Jairo Gomez as next bishop of Laredo". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved May 1, 2026.

[4] "Rinunce e nomine, 01.05.2026". Retrieved May 1, 2026.

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