Bishop of Puno Dies Days Before Leo XIV’s Visit
Funeral rites begin in Lima and Puno after a second episcopal death in two days as Peru readies the papal itinerary.
Bishop Jorge Pedro Carrión Pavlich of Puno died at age 76. His death was announced on Sunday, November 1, 2026, during a Mass at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Candelaria in Puno. He had been hospitalized in a clinic in Lima. No cause of death has been made public.
The loss is the second for the Peruvian hierarchy in two days. Archbishop Richard Daniel Alarcón Urrutia of Cusco, 74, died on Friday, October 30, after a battle with cancer. Archbishop Alarcón had taken part in preparations to receive Pope Leo XIV in Cusco, one of the stops on the Holy Father’s itinerary in Peru from November 11 to 16.
Condolences and a long pastoral life
The Episcopal Conference of Peru issued a statement of condolence: “We join in prayer with the Church of Puno, his family and the entire Catholic community, giving thanks to God for his life and his service to the Church.” The conference also prayed for his eternal rest and consolation for his relatives.
A native of Tarma, Bishop Carrión had marked 50 years of priesthood. The Archdiocese of Lima noted more than 26 years of episcopal ministry. Saint John Paul II appointed him a bishop in May 2000, and he led the Diocese of Puno for more than 24 years. Before his episcopal appointment he served as deputy secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Peru.
Funeral arrangements
A wake was held on Sunday, November 1, at the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Jirón Santorín 258, Santiago de Surco, Lima, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The vigil and wake continue in Puno on Monday, November 2. The funeral Mass is set for Tuesday, November 3. Burial is planned for Wednesday, November 4, in the cemetery of Tarma.
The faithful of Puno and the wider Church in Peru thus enter All Souls’ week mourning two shepherds, even as dioceses across the country complete final preparations for the Pope’s visit. Catholics are invited to pray for the eternal rest of Bishop Carrión and Archbishop Alarcón and for consolation for their flocks.