Bishop Teodoro Gómez Rivera dies in Madrid

Bishop Teodoro Gómez Rivera died suddenly in Madrid on September 28 while traveling to Rome for an ad limina visit to the Pope. The 63-year-old bishop of Choluteca was making a stop in Madrid before joining other Honduran bishops for the scheduled meeting with Pope Leo XIV in early October.

Gómez Rivera served as the vice president of the Episcopal Conference of Honduras for the 2025–2028 term. He worked alongside president José Vicente Nácher Tatay, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, and secretary general Walter Guillén.

The Honduran Church confirmed the death through local media, requesting prayers for the bishop. While the cause of death has not been officially released, the Church stated it would provide more information as details become available. Gómez Rivera was the first Honduran to lead the Diocese of Choluteca. He was ordained a priest on January 27, 1996, and held several roles in his diocese, including parochial vicar of San José de Nacaome and director of the Pablo VI minor seminary.